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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ready for a culinary escape? \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> continues its 20th season with a delicious three-part spotlight on the Monterey Bay Area’s dynamic dining scene before returning to the Bay Area. The James Beard and Emmy Award-winning series returns this July with standout restaurants serving everything from smoky brisket and Thai street food to São Paulo-style stews and over-the-top hot dogs.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Each week, three Bay Area locals join host Leslie Sbrocco to recommend their favorite spots, swap stories, and dive into spirited food debates. This season serves up everything from vegetarian tasting menus in Pacific Grove to house-butchered meats in Seaside and seafood towers paired with ocean views, surf-town charm, and serious flavor in Monterey. Plus, Cecilia Tries It heads to Castroville for a tasting tour along the Monterey County Artichoke Trail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don’t miss the premiere of four new episodes, \u003c/span>\u003cb>Thursdays at 7:30 PM on KQED 9, starting on July 10.\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hungry for a preview? Here’s what’s on our plate this season:\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"315\" height=\"560\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/zu6nM8Yqk90\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 10\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>Seaside\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, \u003c/span>\u003cb>The Meatery Butchery & Eatery\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> serves up bold sandwiches, house-made sausages, and 18-hour smoked brisket from a chef who sources his meats with care.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Hanloh Thai Food \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">in downtown \u003c/span>\u003cb>Santa Cruz \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">offers seasonal Thai dishes like double-fried gai tod hat yai and steamed black cod in spicy lime broth, all inspired by the chef’s Thai-Californian roots.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Schooners Monterey\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> delivers panoramic ocean views and sustainable seafood, including a saffron-tomato cioppino, Dungeness crab BLT rolls, and classic ice cream sundaes.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 17\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>El Bistro by The Sea \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">brings a Mexican twist to \u003c/span>\u003cb>Carmel\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> breakfasts, with dishes like crème brûlée French toast, chilaquiles rojos, and chile relleno omelettes.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Julia’s Vegetarian Restaurant\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Pacific Grove \u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">wows guests with creative vegetarian fare, including a crispy fried mushroom samplers, yellow coconut curry, and standout pizzas.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Sampa Brazilian Kitchen\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Santa Cruz\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, diners savor São Paulo-inspired dishes like moqueca, vegan feijoada, and pão de queijo — all paired with tropical juices, local beers, and live music.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 24\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Woody’s at the Airport\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Monterey\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> offers elevated comfort food with runway views — think buttery sand dabs, honey chili wings, and “Wills Fargo” steak bites.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Lucy’s on Lighthouse\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Pacific Grove\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> serves over-the-top hot dogs like the bacon-wrapped Asilomar and the pulled pork–topped Cobblestones dog, plus crispy tots with Lucy’s house sauce.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Home\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Soquel\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Chef Brad Briske crafts seasonal dishes from locally sourced ingredients — from fried chicken with anchovy aioli to candy cap mushroom panna cotta.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Cecilia Tries It, Cecilia Phillips heads to \u003c/span>\u003cb>Castroville\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to explore the legacy and lore of the Monterey Bay Area’s most iconic vegetable: the humble artichoke.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 31\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Brezo\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> delights in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Albany\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with Latin-Californian comfort food like banana Kahlúa French toast, gorditas, and the juicy Brezo Burger.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Francisco\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s 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pizzas.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Sampa Brazilian Kitchen\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Santa Cruz\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, diners savor São Paulo-inspired dishes like moqueca, vegan feijoada, and pão de queijo — all paired with tropical juices, local beers, and live music.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 24\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Woody’s at the Airport\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Monterey\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> offers elevated comfort food with runway views — think buttery sand dabs, honey chili wings, and “Wills Fargo” steak bites.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Lucy’s on Lighthouse\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Pacific Grove\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> serves over-the-top hot dogs like the bacon-wrapped Asilomar and the pulled pork–topped Cobblestones dog, plus crispy tots with Lucy’s house sauce.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Home\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Soquel\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, Chef Brad Briske crafts seasonal dishes from locally sourced ingredients — from fried chicken with anchovy aioli to candy cap mushroom panna cotta.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Cecilia Tries It, Cecilia Phillips heads to \u003c/span>\u003cb>Castroville\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to explore the legacy and lore of the Monterey Bay Area’s most iconic vegetable: the humble artichoke.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">July 31\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Brezo\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> delights in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Albany\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with Latin-Californian comfort food like banana Kahlúa French toast, gorditas, and the juicy Brezo Burger.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Francisco\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s Fillmore District, \u003c/span>\u003cb>Minnie Bell’s Soul Food Movement\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> serves rosemary fried chicken, brown butter cornbread, and mac and cheese rooted in Southern family tradition.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Rise Woodfire Pizza\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Mateo\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> turns a historic train station into a dining destination with wood-fired pies, rotisserie meats, and decadent desserts.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Cecilia Tries It, Cecilia Phillips visits \u003cb>San Jose\u003c/b>’s \u003cb>Japantown\u003c/b> for market-fresh bites and the vibrant sights and sounds of the \u003cb>Obon Festival\u003c/b>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have a restaurant you think deserves the spotlight? Nominate your favorite spots and apply to be a guest at \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/checkplease/apply\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">kqed.org/checkplease/apply\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "check-please-bay-area-reviews-skilletz-cafe-peony-seafood-le-papillon",
"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Skillet'z Cafe, Peony Seafood, Le Papillon",
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"headTitle": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Skillet’z Cafe, Peony Seafood, Le Papillon | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 20, episode 2, airs Thursday, April 17, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our culinary journey begins in the charming, historic Niles district of Fremont, where \u003cstrong>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/strong> serves up bold breakfasts that locals can’t get enough of. Diners tuck into fluffy beignets, a decadent Monte Cristo sandwich, and stacks of Nutella-strawberry-banana pancakes — a meal best followed by a stroll through Niles’ antique shops and silent film history. In the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown, \u003cstrong>Peony Seafood\u003c/strong> offers a classic dim sum experience in one of the few Chinese banquet halls in the Bay Area. Guests can enjoy dishes like fried daikon cake wrapped in crispy rice noodles, salt-and-pepper custard tofu, and delicate steamed shrimp dumplings with cilantro, handmade fresh daily. The journey ends at \u003cstrong>Le Papillon\u003c/strong>, a San Jose fine-dining destination that has been dazzling diners for over 40 years with its elegant, French-inspired tasting menus. Highlights include the Dungeness crab soufflé with saffron and caviar, the melt-in-your-mouth grilled beef tenderloin with marrow emulsion, and the stunning black sesame terrine with toasted meringue and chocolate. The episode wraps up at the \u003cstrong>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/strong>, where Cecilia samples fresh malasadas and savory hand pies, and takes in the scene with some die-hard vintage car enthusiasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23448\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23448 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Anna Mindess, Nima Alahari and Jason T. Douglass from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://skilletz.cafe/\">\u003cstrong>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/strong> (Fremont)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peonyrestaurant.com/\">\u003cstrong>Peony Seafood\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.lepapillon.com/\">\u003cstrong>Le Papillon \u003c/strong>(San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://nilesfarmersmarket.org/\">\u003cstrong>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/strong> (Fremont)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23449\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-800x1015.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1015\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-800x1015.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1020x1294.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-160x203.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-768x974.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1211x1536.png 1211w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1615x2048.png 1615w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1920x2435.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"http://www.textbookvineyards.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Textbook 2022 “The Pey Family Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $46\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>The Textbook wines are ones to seek out. Well-priced bottles overdeliver in quality, especially the Pey Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a deeply hued, layered red that blends fruit from some of Napa Valley’s top vineyards. Dark fruit flavors and a supple texture make this a wine to enjoy now with hearty fare or cellar for a few years to gain more complexity. With an under-$50 price tag, it’s a fantastic deal when it comes to high-end Napa Valley Cabernet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Founded by Jonathan Pey along with his late wife, Susan, their goal was to craft wines of elegance and balance that showcase “textbook” character. Winemaker Abigail Estrada carries out that vision with this classy red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.Paulakornell.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cb>Paula Kornell Brut Rosé, Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Wine\u003c/b>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California $25\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>When talking about the history of Napa Valley — and certainly the history of sparkling wine in California — the name Kornell looms large. Famed winemaker and vintner Hanns Kornell was born into a third-generation German winemaking family. He immigrated to the United States and through hard work and a partnership with his talented wife, Marilouise, was able to purchase the iconic Larkmead Winery in 1958. There he made the highest quality sparkling wine using the traditional French method. Today, his daughter, Paula Kornell, has her own namesake bubbly, and it lives up to the family’s commitment of quality and value.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">This beautifully pale pink sparkler is a wine to love. The attractive bottle catches your eye, but it’s the elegant wine inside that puts a smile on your face. A blend of mostly Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, red-berry and floral-scented aromas are complemented by delicate, crisp flavors. Enjoy a glass to begin your night, then pair it with savory dishes to a lightly sweet dessert. It’s a stylish sparkler worth twice the price.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"121\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Good old country cooking in Fremont…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"243\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"179\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I don’t care about the calories. I don’t read them. I just eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"298\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"264\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …dim sum delights in Oakland…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"351\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"317\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> A symphony of different textures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"420\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"372\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …and contemporary French cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"484\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"441\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It’s never changed. It’s always beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"486\" data-end=\"546\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"486\" data-end=\"505\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just ahead on \u003cem data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"546\">Check, Please! Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"621\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"569\">Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> There’s sugar everywhere! Mmm! These are beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"623\" data-end=\"638\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"640\" data-end=\"1123\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"640\" data-end=\"659\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to \u003cem data-start=\"695\" data-end=\"721\">Check, Please! Bay Area,\u003c/em> the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the \u003cem data-start=\"964\" data-end=\"980\">Check, Please!\u003c/em> table today are ASL interpreter and food writer \u003cstrong data-start=\"1029\" data-end=\"1045\">Anna Mindess\u003c/strong>, tech sales expert \u003cstrong data-start=\"1065\" data-end=\"1081\">Nima Alahari\u003c/strong>, and patient advocate \u003cstrong data-start=\"1104\" data-end=\"1122\">Jason Douglass\u003c/strong>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1313\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1144\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Welcome, everyone.\u003cbr data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1166\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1183\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003cbr data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1197\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1197\" data-end=\"1216\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003cbr data-start=\"1227\" data-end=\"1230\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1230\" data-end=\"1249\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Nice to be here?\u003cbr data-start=\"1266\" data-end=\"1269\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1288\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very excited to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1315\" data-end=\"1615\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1315\" data-end=\"1334\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Nima gets things started with his bustling breakfast spot. Offering American diner classics paired with over-the-top, Instagrammable lattes and shakes, it’s his favorite way to jump-start the day. Nestled in the heart of Fremont’s historic Niles neighborhood, it’s Skillet’z Cafe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1845\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1635\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Skillet’z is an American diner, old country cooking, but with a Mexican flair. The chefs are from Zacatecas, Mexico, and so they’ve brought a lot of the food that they grew up with, that their grandmas cooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1847\" data-end=\"1888\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1847\" data-end=\"1855\">Man:\u003c/strong> My go-to is usually the burrito.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"2014\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"1908\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Our food comes out super hot, super crispy, super flavorful. Breakfast made with lots of love and huevos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2093\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2034\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> How’s the food and everything?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2065\" data-end=\"2068\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2068\" data-end=\"2076\">Man:\u003c/strong> Good. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2282\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2113\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> I was a regular customer for over 10 years. I would eat at Skillet’z at least once a week. There was an opportunity to become a partner, so I jumped at the opportunity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2284\" data-end=\"2357\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2284\" data-end=\"2302\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> This is the sausage omelette.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2332\" data-end=\"2335\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2335\" data-end=\"2345\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Yeah, here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2457\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2377\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> A lot of the dishes are named after some of our team members and staff members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2459\" data-end=\"2519\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2459\" data-end=\"2469\">Woman:\u003c/strong> I’m [indistinct], and you’re eating at Skillet’z.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2521\" data-end=\"2686\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2521\" data-end=\"2539\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> They just named a dish after me. It’s a scramble that comes with all meats and all veggies and a side of bacon. It’s called the Jonathan Scramble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2934\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2706\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> When I first came to Skillet’z, I was told that the salsa is so good you could drink it. And that is literally what I do every time. I will pour salsa all over my food. Highly recommend pairing it with all of our savory dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2936\" data-end=\"2951\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2953\" data-end=\"3043\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2953\" data-end=\"2971\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> We really treat all of our customers like family.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3021\" data-end=\"3024\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3024\" data-end=\"3034\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3045\" data-end=\"3265\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3045\" data-end=\"3063\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> They say that breakfast is the most important part of your day, and it’s just food that makes you feel good, food that makes you feel like you’re with family and having a great time.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3246\" data-end=\"3249\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3249\" data-end=\"3257\">All:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3267\" data-end=\"3347\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3267\" data-end=\"3285\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Alright. One, two, three, Skillet’z!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3322\" data-end=\"3325\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3325\" data-end=\"3335\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Good, good!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"70\" data-end=\"270\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"70\" data-end=\"89\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Nima. So, you’re a big brunch guy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"153\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> That’s my thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"173\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"192\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. What is it about Skillet’z that brings you back time and time again?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"528\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"289\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Skillet’z is a really, like, familial kind of place. You go there and you just feel like you’re comfortable and you’re at home. I always get a couple drinks to start off with. I can’t skip the vanilla latte, which is absolutely fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"1239\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"549\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s your go-to, first thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"581\" data-end=\"584\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"584\" data-end=\"601\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> It’s my go-to.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"616\" data-end=\"619\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"638\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I had the caramel latte.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"663\" data-end=\"666\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"683\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah, the caramel latte. They’re really creamy, right? They have a nice foam on top. They always come with some, like, cookie or a wafer as well too, which is really nice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"855\" data-end=\"858\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"858\" data-end=\"877\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s right. Start your day with a cookie.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"921\" data-end=\"924\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"941\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I have to. I’m a sweets guy. So I need to start with a cookie. But I’ll get that and I’ll also get their freshly squeezed orange juice, which is the tangiest orange juice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1116\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1133\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had that. It was so fresh. Really good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1175\" data-end=\"1178\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1178\" data-end=\"1197\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> You could tell it was right off the tree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1241\" data-end=\"1512\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1241\" data-end=\"1260\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, so you got your drinks in front of you. Then what’s the order?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1332\" data-end=\"1335\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1335\" data-end=\"1352\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> My order… Well, my brother-in-law will always say, “If you don’t know, you won’t know. You got to get the Monte Cristo.” So I always go for the Monte Cristo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"2182\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1531\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> What’s that?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1544\" data-end=\"1547\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1547\" data-end=\"1564\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Now, the Monte Cristo is ham, Swiss cheese, and turkey with French toast as the buns. I know, it’s a lot. I don’t care about the calories. I don’t read them. I just eat.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1734\" data-end=\"1737\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1737\" data-end=\"1756\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1766\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1783\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Okay, that’s my thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1809\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1809\" data-end=\"1828\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Sweet and savory.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1846\" data-end=\"1849\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1849\" data-end=\"1866\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Sweet and savory. My two favorite things. And I have to get that every single time. It is delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1967\" data-end=\"1970\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1970\" data-end=\"1989\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Do they do the powdered sugar topping and the raspberry jam on the side?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2062\" data-end=\"2065\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2065\" data-end=\"2082\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Absolutely, raspberry jam. Absolutely fantastic.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2131\" data-end=\"2134\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2134\" data-end=\"2153\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And what did you have, Anna?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2659\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2201\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Well, I had a traditional breakfast. I had two over-easy eggs with bacon that was really thick. Nice mouthfeel there. And the hash browns, which I liked because they were very crispy on top. And then there’s an option that instead of toast, you can get a pancake, and I got a blueberry pancake. That was the best part. It was fluffy and, like, raised up. I don’t know how they do that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2587\" data-end=\"2590\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2590\" data-end=\"2609\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Souffléed, almost.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2628\" data-end=\"2631\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2648\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Souffléed!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2661\" data-end=\"2975\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2661\" data-end=\"2678\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> What I usually like is the Nutella strawberry banana pancakes. You get the drizzle on there.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2771\" data-end=\"2774\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2774\" data-end=\"2793\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> That sounds really good. I didn’t have that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2841\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2841\" data-end=\"2860\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I can tell you have a sweet tooth.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2895\" data-end=\"2898\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"2915\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Definitely, definitely. [Laughter] I can’t live without it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"3451\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"2996\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had the biscuits and gravy with over-easy eggs. Lovely biscuits. Fluffy. The gravy was a little lacking in salt, but that was balanced by having a really nice piece of ham on the side — thick, sweet ham. The one challenge with the eggs was one egg was hard and one egg was the over-easy egg, so it was a little bit of a discombobulated egg. And I thought, “How did they do that? How did we get that on the plate?” But we ate it, you know. It was good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3453\" data-end=\"3792\">We also had a mushroom and onion omelette, and you could tell that the onions were a sweet onion, like a Maui onion. Potatoes were not the crispy hash browns, but like a softer diced potato, and you could tell it was fresh. And then they serve a nice pico de gallo on the side that you can put over the entire plate. It made it very tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3794\" data-end=\"4696\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3794\" data-end=\"3811\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I want to tell you something about this restaurant. I’m a sign language interpreter, and Fremont has two wonderful schools, the California School for the Deaf and Ohlone College.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3990\" data-end=\"3993\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3993\" data-end=\"4012\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Mm-hmm.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4020\" data-end=\"4023\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4023\" data-end=\"4040\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And because of that, there are places that are called “deaf friendly.” So I took my friend Tom, and he’s deaf. The server saw us signing as we came in. She made this gesture to Tom, which is not really the sign for “What would you like to drink?” But he said it was understandable.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4322\" data-end=\"4325\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4325\" data-end=\"4344\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Sure.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4350\" data-end=\"4353\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4353\" data-end=\"4370\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And you don’t have to know sign language. Like, this woman didn’t know sign language, but you have to be into visual communication.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4502\" data-end=\"4505\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4505\" data-end=\"4524\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> But she was aware.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4543\" data-end=\"4546\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4546\" data-end=\"4565\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4570\" data-end=\"4573\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4573\" data-end=\"4590\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes, that was really nice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4617\" data-end=\"4620\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4620\" data-end=\"4639\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Inclusive.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4650\" data-end=\"4653\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4653\" data-end=\"4670\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Very sensitive and aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4698\" data-end=\"5050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4698\" data-end=\"4717\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, that leads to the question of service.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4760\" data-end=\"4763\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4763\" data-end=\"4780\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Always fantastic. I just feel like it’s a family member treating us and serving us every time. You have to get there on time. It’s always going to be busy, especially on a weekend. It’s going to be packed,\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4986\" data-end=\"4989\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4989\" data-end=\"5008\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Which you guys might have noticed, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"363\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"91\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> The nice thing is, though, that they take your order beforehand, so you’re waiting outside, but someone will come and say, “Oh, is your order ready?” And so when you sit down, your food kind of comes very quickly versus having to wait, you know, to order once you’ve sat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"365\" data-end=\"971\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"365\" data-end=\"384\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s sort of the insider tip. You put in your order and you wait.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"452\" data-end=\"455\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"455\" data-end=\"472\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Nice and early, and you wait.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"502\" data-end=\"505\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"505\" data-end=\"524\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It’s a great town, actually, because there’s all the antique stores, and Charlie Chaplin filmed films there. That’s the amazing thing as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"667\" data-end=\"670\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"670\" data-end=\"687\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> The movie industry started there.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"724\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"724\" data-end=\"743\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> In Niles?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"753\" data-end=\"756\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"756\" data-end=\"773\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> They have a museum.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"796\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"815\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> In Niles. Mm.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"832\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"832\" data-end=\"851\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, a bit of history and a lot of sweetness.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"899\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"916\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> And a lot of sweetness.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"940\" data-end=\"943\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"943\" data-end=\"962\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"973\" data-end=\"1124\">Well, if you would like to try Skillet’z Cafe, it’s located on Niles Boulevard in Fremont, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $35.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1504\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1145\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Anna’s been sampling the delicate, handmade dim sum at her restaurant for more than 10 years, and she still hasn’t tasted everything on the menu. The Cantonese specialties are made fresh to order and served steaming hot in beautiful, banquet hall-sized dining rooms. A mainstay in Oakland’s Chinatown for more than two decades, it’s Peony Seafood Restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1521\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1803\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1537\">Chris Xie:\u003c/strong> Peony Seafood Restaurant has been a staple in Oakland Chinatown for 30 years. We have a big menu — you know, dim sum, over 100 items. The “dim sum” means “to touch the heart.” When we have dim sum, usually we have tea, with lots of people, like a family or friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"2226\">Our dim sum chefs, they hand-prepare the dim sum daily. And my favorite, the xiaolongbao and the cheung fun. The cheung fun, we make it here with thin, large steamed rice noodles. They fill it with some sorts like shrimp, pork and beef. Outside is smooth, and inside should be meaty and crunchy. And we have the special sauce that is called XO sauce, just to add a flavor, or you can use that sauce for the dipping sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2228\" data-end=\"2341\">We have king crab, lobster. They can pick out the live fish from the fish tank. They can pick whatever they like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2480\">The kids love the animal-shaped dessert, especially the piggy buns and the coconut rabbit. That’s so fun. A lot of people take a picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"2823\">Peony Seafood Restaurant is the biggest restaurant in Oakland. It can hold up to like 500 people. And so we can catering any kind of party.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2621\" data-end=\"2624\">How’s everything so far? The job is like customer service, and some people, they come all the time to be treated like a family member. I want our customers to have a great meal and want to come back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2972\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2844\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Anna, this restaurant has a huge variety of dim sum. And are you a dim sum specialist? Is that what you consider yourself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2974\" data-end=\"3278\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2974\" data-end=\"2991\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Well, I’m a dim sum lover. And I’ve tasted dim sum in Hong Kong, in Toronto, New York, San Francisco. And of all the places that I go, Peony is my absolute favorite.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3157\" data-end=\"3160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3160\" data-end=\"3179\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Wow.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3184\" data-end=\"3187\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3187\" data-end=\"3204\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I think they have very creative dishes that I haven’t seen anywhere else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3280\" data-end=\"3578\">There’s a crispy daikon baton, then it’s wrapped in a sleeve of very fine, crispy rice noodles. Then it has a little squiggle of a sauce and little tiny fish eggs on top. And when you put it in your mouth, it’s like a symphony of different textures and flavors that all come together. It’s amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3580\" data-end=\"4009\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3580\" data-end=\"3599\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> And then, did you try also the salt and pepper custard tofu?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3660\" data-end=\"3663\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3663\" data-end=\"3680\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> No, I haven’t tried that one.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3710\" data-end=\"3713\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3713\" data-end=\"3732\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Oh, my God, I could’ve eaten plates of it. It was so good. I don’t know how they get it so crispy on the outside, but so tender on the inside. And it’s served with jalapenos and peanuts, I think it is, on top, and some green onions. I literally could’ve eaten a plate of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4011\" data-end=\"4195\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4011\" data-end=\"4030\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, and it’s an extensive menu, isn’t it?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4074\" data-end=\"4077\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4077\" data-end=\"4094\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> It’s a really big menu.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4118\" data-end=\"4121\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4121\" data-end=\"4140\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4146\" data-end=\"4149\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4149\" data-end=\"4166\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Everything was family style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"382\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"89\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> So I ended up getting the pan fried pork buns, which were absolutely incredible.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"173\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"190\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I like those.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"204\" data-end=\"207\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"207\" data-end=\"224\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Those were really crispy on one side and then just really fluffy, and you would tear them open. It would be hot in the center, and the texture was fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"384\" data-end=\"688\">I got the beef rice as well, which came with egg, too, and with that, it was sort of bland by itself. I’m a huge rice guy, too, especially with beef, but I got that with a side of their soy sauce and their house-made chili sauce, too, which I could have broken into the back and stolen. It was that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"4050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"709\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You want to put that on everything?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"745\" data-end=\"748\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"765\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I want to put that on everything, even the sweets.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"816\" data-end=\"819\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"819\" data-end=\"838\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had the barbecue pork puffs. It was like shatteringly tender. Pop in your mouth and it just broke, the crust. And the flavor was so good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"979\" data-end=\"982\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"982\" data-end=\"1001\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Ah!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1005\" data-end=\"1008\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1008\" data-end=\"1025\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I got the shrimp dumplings with cilantro. The shrimp was perfect. It wasn’t too gamy. It wasn’t too tough. It was really meaty. And those were delicious, too.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1187\" data-end=\"1204\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Another thing — I like shrimp in a lot of things. So I got the red rice yeast roll. So, I think there’s some health property to red rice. Okay, it’s this very satiny roll on the outside of red rice, and inside is the crispy shrimp. It’s like the interplay of different textures.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1483\" data-end=\"1486\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1505\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> There you go.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1519\" data-end=\"1522\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1539\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Did anybody have soup dumplings?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1572\" data-end=\"1575\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1575\" data-end=\"1594\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> No.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1598\" data-end=\"1601\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1618\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> No?!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1626\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1643\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I should have.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1658\" data-end=\"1661\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1678\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, gosh!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1688\" data-end=\"1691\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1691\" data-end=\"1710\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s a dish they’re known for, huh?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1748\" data-end=\"1751\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1768\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes. And it’s just… you know how you eat soup dumplings? You have to make a little hole, suck it out. It just melts in your mouth. Next time, you have to get that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1934\" data-end=\"1937\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1937\" data-end=\"1956\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes. Well, I’ll be going back.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1987\" data-end=\"1990\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1990\" data-end=\"2009\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think that Anna is going to be the guide for you guys.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2069\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2069\" data-end=\"2088\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Right?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2098\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2115\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> We’ll all go with you.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2141\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2160\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2169\" data-end=\"2172\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2189\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Okay. That sounds fun. You can come, too.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"2234\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2234\" data-end=\"2253\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2265\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2265\" data-end=\"2282\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2291\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2291\" data-end=\"2310\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Did you happen to try the onion pancakes? ‘Cause when you were speaking about sauces, they serve the onion pancakes with a curry sauce, which is unusual, but it was so tasty.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2485\" data-end=\"2488\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2488\" data-end=\"2505\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I think their big personality at Peony Seafood was their desserts and their cute animals.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2595\" data-end=\"2598\">[excited chatter]\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"2618\">Those were fantastic. The piggies were gorgeous, and you’d tear them apart and they were really fluffy. And the custard and egg was delicious. It was pretty light. It wasn’t too overbearing and too over-sweet, but it was a perfect end to the meal.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2865\" data-end=\"2868\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2868\" data-end=\"2885\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> That’s nice. And if you’re into social media, the bunnies, the coconut bunnies, they’re cute and they come on a little slice of carrot. And then if you take the plate and you jiggle it, then they wiggle, and it’s perfect. I mean, how many desserts can you have? But my favorite one is the pandan mochi.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3190\" data-end=\"3193\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3193\" data-end=\"3212\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3228\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3228\" data-end=\"3245\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yay! So, this is a green, pear-shaped mochi, and inside is warm custard. Oh, it’s just the best.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3342\" data-end=\"3345\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3345\" data-end=\"3364\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And you ordered a lot of food, but did you feel like you got value?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3432\" data-end=\"3435\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3435\" data-end=\"3452\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I think so. Yeah, we got a lot of food, and the value was perfect. I didn’t feel like I was snubbed.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3553\" data-end=\"3556\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3556\" data-end=\"3573\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Did you take anything home?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3601\" data-end=\"3604\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3604\" data-end=\"3621\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I did. I took all the rice home. One more piggy left. I had to show it to my family.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3706\" data-end=\"3709\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3709\" data-end=\"3728\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> A little bit of that chili sauce?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3762\" data-end=\"3765\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3765\" data-end=\"3782\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> A little bit of that chili sauce, and it was gone the instant I got home.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3856\" data-end=\"3859\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3859\" data-end=\"3878\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. If you would like to try Peony Seafood Restaurant, it’s located on 9th Street in Oakland’s Chinatown, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"92\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> When it comes to celebrating a special occasion, Jason knows just the place for an elegant yet unpretentious experience. Offering contemporary French fare for more than 40 years in San Jose, it’s \u003cem data-start=\"289\" data-end=\"302\">Le Papillon\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"320\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"513\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"339\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> \u003cem data-start=\"340\" data-end=\"353\">Le Papillon\u003c/em> was started in 1977 by our dad as sort of a continental restaurant, very popular at the time.\u003cbr data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"450\">Over time, it’s evolved into being kind of contemporary French.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"622\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"536\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> Our cuisine has many influences, a lot of them from Scott’s travels and his passions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"624\" data-end=\"854\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"624\" data-end=\"641\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> Favorite dishes on the menu… chefs are all the same, though. We only like the last dish we created. [Laughs] That’s, like, the favorite dish, right? Quail egg toast with caviar. My favorite way to enjoy caviar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"882\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"866\">Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"988\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"901\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> And you have to eat it in one bite, ’cause if you try and take a bite, you’ll wear it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"990\" data-end=\"1126\">We offer a six-course tasting menu. That’s what I get most excited about because I get to control every course. One last little garnish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1263\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1149\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> People love to share. There’s a lot of plate switching or fork traveling across the table, and we encourage that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1265\" data-end=\"1405\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1265\" data-end=\"1282\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> While we are contemporary French, we’re still true to our French roots. A reduction sauce kind of makes everything French.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1516\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1428\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’re best known for since day one is our soufflé Grand Marnier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1518\" data-end=\"1831\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1518\" data-end=\"1535\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> Soufflé Grand Marnier is a tough dish to execute. It was on the opening menu, day one, in 1977, and it’s become a favorite and a classic. It’s light, it’s airy, but it gives you the real flavor of Grand Marnier. And if we ever take it off the menu, we will get full-scale revolt from our guests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1833\" data-end=\"1889\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1833\" data-end=\"1854\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> There would be a massive backlash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1891\" data-end=\"1906\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1908\" data-end=\"2133\">I think a lot of people appreciate an elegant, quiet dining room. I think the key to great service goes unnoticed. You have this complete experience, and by the end of it, you think, “Wow, that was incredible and effortless.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2215\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2145\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Mmm, that’s so good!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2169\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2169\" data-end=\"2177\">Man:\u003c/strong> Everything they do is good, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2217\" data-end=\"2416\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2217\" data-end=\"2234\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> I’m still here and we’re still cooking the food because we love making people happy and it makes us happy, carrying on the tradition. Here. \u003cem data-start=\"2375\" data-end=\"2389\">Le Papillon.\u003c/em> The \u003cem data-start=\"2394\" data-end=\"2416\">pièce de résistance.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2418\" data-end=\"2897\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2418\" data-end=\"2437\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Jason, it’s interesting because for a restaurant in the Bay Area to be around 40 years, they have to be doing something right. Correct?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2578\" data-end=\"2581\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2581\" data-end=\"2600\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very true. I mean, especially in today’s day and age where restaurants seem to open and close at the drop of a hat. They have been around for 40 years, and over those years, I’ve been going for 14 years to the restaurant, and I love it. It’s never changed. It’s always beautiful. Just, I love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2899\" data-end=\"3112\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2899\" data-end=\"2918\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you get that feeling when you walked into the restaurant?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2980\" data-end=\"2983\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2983\" data-end=\"3000\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3012\" data-end=\"3015\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3015\" data-end=\"3034\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> This is special.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3051\" data-end=\"3054\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3054\" data-end=\"3071\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Definitely.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3086\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3086\" data-end=\"3103\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3114\" data-end=\"3370\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3114\" data-end=\"3131\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I’ve never been to any kind of fine dining, especially French restaurant, in my life before. And it actually lined up with my girlfriend’s birthday when we went, so it was a really special occasion and a really special time where we went.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3780\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3391\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Because you can choose either a tasting menu or you can choose a prix fixe menu. Correct?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3481\" data-end=\"3484\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3484\" data-end=\"3503\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes. Yes. I love the fact that they bring you a beautiful amuse-bouche when you sit down. Our particular evening, we had a lovely lobster bisque with beautiful lobster. Such a silky texture. And the lobster was perfect. Very tender, very of the sea. Just a lovely little bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3905\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3801\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you amuse your bouche?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3828\" data-end=\"3831\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3831\" data-end=\"3848\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> My bouche was amused.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3870\" data-end=\"3873\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3873\" data-end=\"3892\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very amused.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3907\" data-end=\"4153\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3907\" data-end=\"3926\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you have for an amuse bouche?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3965\" data-end=\"3968\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3968\" data-end=\"3985\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I can’t remember exactly, but it was little fish eggs that… on a little creamy… I mean, the tiniest little dish. I like small bites of things, so that was perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4155\" data-end=\"4650\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4155\" data-end=\"4172\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> My bouche was amused as well, actually. I had the mussel and saffron soup with a side of olive bread.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4274\" data-end=\"4277\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4277\" data-end=\"4296\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Oh!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4300\" data-end=\"4303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4303\" data-end=\"4320\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> And being Persian, saffron is a big part of my culture, so it really took me home. I actually asked for seconds on the soup. I don’t know if that’s something you can do, but it was absolutely delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4523\" data-end=\"4526\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4526\" data-end=\"4545\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I’m sure the chef loved that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4575\" data-end=\"4578\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4578\" data-end=\"4595\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yes, it was amazing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4616\" data-end=\"4619\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4619\" data-end=\"4638\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4652\" data-end=\"4840\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4652\" data-end=\"4671\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We typically do the four-course menu. I love it. We had the butternut squash soup. Very creamy, very silky, like a curry or a cardamom, which goes well with the squash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4842\" data-end=\"5153\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4842\" data-end=\"4859\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I first started with the Dungeness crab soufflé with caviar and lemon. It’s my first time actually having caviar, and I actually enjoyed it. It was really good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5020\" data-end=\"5023\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5023\" data-end=\"5042\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Caviar virgin.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5057\" data-end=\"5060\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5060\" data-end=\"5077\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5083\" data-end=\"5086\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5086\" data-end=\"5105\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> No longer.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5116\" data-end=\"5119\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5119\" data-end=\"5136\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> No longer. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5155\" data-end=\"5550\">And I was actually really delicious. I’m big on textures, and the texture of the crab wasn’t really to my liking so much, but the broth and the soup, it kind of came with as well, the dipping and the bread of the Dungeness crab soufflé was absolutely delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5416\" data-end=\"5419\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5419\" data-end=\"5438\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, all together, it worked.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5467\" data-end=\"5470\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5470\" data-end=\"5487\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> All together, it worked well and it got me going for the rest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5552\" data-end=\"5794\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5552\" data-end=\"5569\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had an interesting appetizer. It was raw fish, kind of chopped up, made into a patty that was kanpachi,\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5675\" data-end=\"5678\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5678\" data-end=\"5697\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I had that as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5717\" data-end=\"5720\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5720\" data-end=\"5737\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, the round thing?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5758\" data-end=\"5761\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5761\" data-end=\"5780\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> The kanpachi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5796\" data-end=\"6174\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5796\" data-end=\"5813\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And then they sprinkled it with flower petals, lemongrass, a little squiggle of tamarind, and then avocado sorbet, a scoop in the middle. Really unusual.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5967\" data-end=\"5970\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5970\" data-end=\"5989\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It was so good. I had that as well. It was really tasty.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6046\" data-end=\"6049\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6049\" data-end=\"6068\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6074\" data-end=\"6077\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6077\" data-end=\"6094\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Gorgeously plated. I noticed that, as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6138\" data-end=\"6141\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6141\" data-end=\"6160\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yes. Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"309\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"92\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What was next after your first course or appetizer course?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"154\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"154\" data-end=\"173\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Halibut with an herb crust. It was so tender. And it was served with cherry tomatoes and potato, like, pavé. It was really quite tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"560\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"328\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had beef tenderloin, which was perfectly cooked, absolutely. And it was interesting because it had a stewed plum, I think it was, on top, which oddly went together really well. Had potato pavé on the other side and was delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"562\" data-end=\"778\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"562\" data-end=\"579\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I actually also had the beef tenderloin as well. And that, I must say, was the star of the show. I’m big on my steaks. That was a steak you would cut into and it just melted in your mouth instantly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"1357\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"799\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, now let’s talk about those desserts.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"845\" data-end=\"848\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"865\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"870\" data-end=\"873\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"873\" data-end=\"892\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Who wants to go first?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"915\" data-end=\"918\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"918\" data-end=\"935\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I do, I do! Okay. So, the name on the menu made me think of a different image. It said terrine of black sesame.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1050\" data-end=\"1069\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Mm!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1073\" data-end=\"1076\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1093\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> So I imagined, you know, it’ll be a pot with black sesame. And what I was served was surprising. Yeah, it had just delicate little bricks of black sesame and a little chocolate and banana custard, I think it was. And all those flavors together worked really well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1359\" data-end=\"1741\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1359\" data-end=\"1376\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Well, I actually didn’t expect to get any dessert this time. Surprising for me, I know, but compliments from the chef, because their service was so fantastic, they actually brought us out a small birthday cheesecake platter with some honeycomb, a little candle just to commemorate my girlfriend’s birthday. That really set it straight. It was absolutely fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1743\" data-end=\"1974\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1743\" data-end=\"1762\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And I hope you told her you planned that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1804\" data-end=\"1807\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1824\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Uh…yeah. I missed my mark on that one.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"1868\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1868\" data-end=\"1887\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You could have taken responsibility.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1924\" data-end=\"1927\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1927\" data-end=\"1944\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I should have. I should have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1976\" data-end=\"2164\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1976\" data-end=\"1995\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> They never go wrong with dessert. Well, they never go wrong with any dish, really. We have never had a bad dish in 14 years of going there, and it keeps us coming back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2535\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2183\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Might have been the most expensive restaurant I’ve ever eaten in.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2249\" data-end=\"2252\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2252\" data-end=\"2269\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I agree.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2278\" data-end=\"2281\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2281\" data-end=\"2300\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, a special occasion. Again, setting the stage here.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2355\" data-end=\"2358\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2375\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it was awesome.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2397\" data-end=\"2400\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2400\" data-end=\"2417\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Birthday, anniversary. That’s the kind of place.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2466\" data-end=\"2469\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2469\" data-end=\"2488\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Worth it?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2498\" data-end=\"2501\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2501\" data-end=\"2518\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yeah. [Laughter]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2936\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2554\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I would say might not go back, just due to the price, but that beef tenderloin made it worth it 100%.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2656\" data-end=\"2659\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2659\" data-end=\"2678\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, it made it very special for you.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2717\" data-end=\"2720\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2720\" data-end=\"2737\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Very special.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2751\" data-end=\"2754\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2754\" data-end=\"2771\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Life is short.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2786\" data-end=\"2789\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2789\" data-end=\"2808\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Life is short. Our coffins don’t have pockets.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2855\" data-end=\"2858\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2858\" data-end=\"2877\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> There you go. There you go.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2905\" data-end=\"2908\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2908\" data-end=\"2925\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Well said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"3104\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"2957\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> If you would like to try \u003cem data-start=\"2983\" data-end=\"2996\">Le Papillon\u003c/em>, it’s located on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $150.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3106\" data-end=\"3267\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3106\" data-end=\"3125\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now, reporter \u003cstrong data-start=\"3144\" data-end=\"3164\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong> takes us back to Fremont’s historic Niles neighborhood for more Bay Area bites you’ve just got to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3269\" data-end=\"3284\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"307\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"126\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Whoo! We’re here at the Flying A, which is kind of the cornerstone of the end of Niles. Lots of culture, lots of nostalgia. Tell me a little bit about what makes Niles so special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"791\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"326\">Krysten Laine\u003c/strong>: Niles was the original Hollywood. Charlie Chaplin was brought here to do his first film, \u003cem data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"428\">The Tramp\u003c/em>, and they used to film Westerns here that are featured in Niles Canyon. And a lot of these buildings are still here that were there back in the day. This gas station was built in 1938. We brought the car culture back with the Niles Flying A, and every month we have Classics & Coffee, where people bring their classic cars, kick back, relax and have a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"961\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"813\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So, that’s so cool. So, people can come, bring their cars, get a little bit of coffee and get some treats from the farmers market down the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"993\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"980\">Krysten Laine\u003c/strong>: Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"995\" data-end=\"1010\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1012\" data-end=\"1104\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1012\" data-end=\"1025\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: Our business is Dough Wei Me Bakery, and we sell artisan donuts and pastries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1126\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: How do they make them so fluffy?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1162\" data-end=\"1192\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1162\" data-end=\"1175\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: It’s the yeast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1274\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1214\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay, so it’s a yeasted doughnut, kind of like a malasada?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1389\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1289\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: It’s a malasada. It has eggs, sugar. And so the yeast eats the sugar, has CO2 and make it pouf up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1411\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1399\">Both\u003c/strong>: Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1532\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1426\">Zoe Phung\u003c/strong>: This is our ube coconut mochi, our tiramisu, our chocolate hazelnut banana, and our pistachio raspberry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1534\" data-end=\"1585\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1534\" data-end=\"1554\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay, which one should I try?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1621\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1600\">Zoe Phung\u003c/strong>: Maybe the tiramisu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1706\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1643\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Dough Wei Me! Oh, my gosh, there’s sugar everywhere. [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"1740\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"1715\">Man\u003c/strong>: Blueberry cream cheese.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1742\" data-end=\"1777\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1742\" data-end=\"1751\">Woman\u003c/strong>: We’ll take one of those.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1796\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1786\">Man\u003c/strong>: Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1877\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1818\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Niles Pie Company. You’ve been around for a little while.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"1991\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"1894\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: We’ve been around for about 15 years. We’re a worker cooperative. All butter, all scratch-made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2047\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2013\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: All butter sounds good. [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2260\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2064\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: We’ve got our brand-new bacon béchamel savory pastry. It’s got a little bit of our house-made béchamel, chives, hickory-smoked bacon, everything bagel seasoning, and our house-made pastry crust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2302\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2282\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: And this one here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2428\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2319\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: And there is our beef and potato pasty with ground sirloin, Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, herbs and spices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2430\" data-end=\"2565\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2430\" data-end=\"2450\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes. Ooh! That spice really comes through on the top, too. We’re at MAD Creationz. What makes your creations mad?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2567\" data-end=\"2804\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2567\" data-end=\"2584\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: It’s really — It stands for “Make a Difference.” During COVID, me and my wife started a non-profit. So 5% of our proceeds goes to that nonprofit. We like to provide food for less-fortunate families during the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2806\" data-end=\"2886\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2806\" data-end=\"2826\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So you’re not mad at all. You’re quite happy, nice people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"3081\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"2905\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Yeah, exactly. Barbecue is our number-one thing we like to make. Brisket, primarily. Low and slow. No shortcuts. I have the Space Cowboy right here, which is our smashburger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3120\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3103\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: And in my hand?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3122\" data-end=\"3251\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3122\" data-end=\"3139\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: That is our legendary four-cheese macaroni and cheese with our smoked brisket and our homemade barbecue sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3273\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So, what cheeses do you use?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3305\" data-end=\"3438\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3305\" data-end=\"3322\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: I’ll tell you two out of the four. Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, and then there’s two others that are very secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3440\" data-end=\"3545\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3440\" data-end=\"3460\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: But if I’m able to taste this and guess what they are, you’ll tell me if I’m right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3583\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3564\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Yes, ma’am. 100%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3585\" data-end=\"3674\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3585\" data-end=\"3605\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Alright. Look at all this cheese. Mmm! Is one of them cream cheese?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3676\" data-end=\"3703\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3676\" data-end=\"3693\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3705\" data-end=\"3740\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3705\" data-end=\"3725\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes! [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3742\" data-end=\"3785\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3742\" data-end=\"3759\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: That was the secret one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3787\" data-end=\"3953\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3787\" data-end=\"3807\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes! Alright. You know what? Here’s the thing — for the viewers, we’re going to leave the other one a secret. Okay? I’m not even going to guess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3955\" data-end=\"3979\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3955\" data-end=\"3972\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3981\" data-end=\"4008\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3981\" data-end=\"4001\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4025\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4027\" data-end=\"4142\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4027\" data-end=\"4047\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: I don’t drink coffee. So I heard that, like, there’s an alternative here that can wake me up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4144\" data-end=\"4261\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4144\" data-end=\"4154\">Jordan\u003c/strong>: Mm-hmm. I’ve got wheatgrass shots and ginger shots for you. It’s grown with love, so you will taste that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4263\" data-end=\"4316\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4263\" data-end=\"4283\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay. My first wheatgrass shot!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4355\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4328\">Jordan\u003c/strong>: Aw, you couldn’t fake it!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4357\" data-end=\"4466\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4357\" data-end=\"4377\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Ooh! Aah-ha-ha! Wheatgrass… maybe not for me. But super healthy, right? I feel alive.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Skillet'z Cafe, Peony Seafood, Le Papillon | KQED",
"description": "Bay Area foodies review hearty Mexican-inspired brunch in Fremont, dim sum delights in Oakland and French-inspired fine dining in San Jose.",
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"headline": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Skillet'z Cafe, Peony Seafood, Le Papillon",
"datePublished": "2025-04-17T19:33:39-07:00",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 20, episode 2, airs Thursday, April 17, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our culinary journey begins in the charming, historic Niles district of Fremont, where \u003cstrong>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/strong> serves up bold breakfasts that locals can’t get enough of. Diners tuck into fluffy beignets, a decadent Monte Cristo sandwich, and stacks of Nutella-strawberry-banana pancakes — a meal best followed by a stroll through Niles’ antique shops and silent film history. In the heart of Oakland’s Chinatown, \u003cstrong>Peony Seafood\u003c/strong> offers a classic dim sum experience in one of the few Chinese banquet halls in the Bay Area. Guests can enjoy dishes like fried daikon cake wrapped in crispy rice noodles, salt-and-pepper custard tofu, and delicate steamed shrimp dumplings with cilantro, handmade fresh daily. The journey ends at \u003cstrong>Le Papillon\u003c/strong>, a San Jose fine-dining destination that has been dazzling diners for over 40 years with its elegant, French-inspired tasting menus. Highlights include the Dungeness crab soufflé with saffron and caviar, the melt-in-your-mouth grilled beef tenderloin with marrow emulsion, and the stunning black sesame terrine with toasted meringue and chocolate. The episode wraps up at the \u003cstrong>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/strong>, where Cecilia samples fresh malasadas and savory hand pies, and takes in the scene with some die-hard vintage car enthusiasts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23448\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-23448 size-medium\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Anna Mindess, Nima Alahari and Jason T. Douglass from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://skilletz.cafe/\">\u003cstrong>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/strong> (Fremont)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://peonyrestaurant.com/\">\u003cstrong>Peony Seafood\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.lepapillon.com/\">\u003cstrong>Le Papillon \u003c/strong>(San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://nilesfarmersmarket.org/\">\u003cstrong>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/strong> (Fremont)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23449\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-800x1015.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1015\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-800x1015.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1020x1294.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-160x203.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-768x974.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1211x1536.png 1211w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1615x2048.png 1615w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2025/04/2002_Wines-1920x2435.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"http://www.textbookvineyards.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Textbook 2022 “The Pey Family Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $46\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>The Textbook wines are ones to seek out. Well-priced bottles overdeliver in quality, especially the Pey Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a deeply hued, layered red that blends fruit from some of Napa Valley’s top vineyards. Dark fruit flavors and a supple texture make this a wine to enjoy now with hearty fare or cellar for a few years to gain more complexity. With an under-$50 price tag, it’s a fantastic deal when it comes to high-end Napa Valley Cabernet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Founded by Jonathan Pey along with his late wife, Susan, their goal was to craft wines of elegance and balance that showcase “textbook” character. Winemaker Abigail Estrada carries out that vision with this classy red.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003ca href=\"http://www.Paulakornell.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cb>Paula Kornell Brut Rosé, Méthode Champenoise Sparkling Wine\u003c/b>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California $25\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>When talking about the history of Napa Valley — and certainly the history of sparkling wine in California — the name Kornell looms large. Famed winemaker and vintner Hanns Kornell was born into a third-generation German winemaking family. He immigrated to the United States and through hard work and a partnership with his talented wife, Marilouise, was able to purchase the iconic Larkmead Winery in 1958. There he made the highest quality sparkling wine using the traditional French method. Today, his daughter, Paula Kornell, has her own namesake bubbly, and it lives up to the family’s commitment of quality and value.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">This beautifully pale pink sparkler is a wine to love. The attractive bottle catches your eye, but it’s the elegant wine inside that puts a smile on your face. A blend of mostly Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, red-berry and floral-scented aromas are complemented by delicate, crisp flavors. Enjoy a glass to begin your night, then pair it with savory dishes to a lightly sweet dessert. It’s a stylish sparkler worth twice the price.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"102\" data-end=\"121\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Good old country cooking in Fremont…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"243\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"162\" data-end=\"179\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I don’t care about the calories. I don’t read them. I just eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"298\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"245\" data-end=\"264\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …dim sum delights in Oakland…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"351\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"300\" data-end=\"317\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> A symphony of different textures.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"420\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"353\" data-end=\"372\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …and contemporary French cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"484\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"422\" data-end=\"441\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It’s never changed. It’s always beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"486\" data-end=\"546\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"486\" data-end=\"505\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just ahead on \u003cem data-start=\"520\" data-end=\"546\">Check, Please! Bay Area.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"621\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"548\" data-end=\"569\">Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> There’s sugar everywhere! Mmm! These are beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"623\" data-end=\"638\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"640\" data-end=\"1123\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"640\" data-end=\"659\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to \u003cem data-start=\"695\" data-end=\"721\">Check, Please! Bay Area,\u003c/em> the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the \u003cem data-start=\"964\" data-end=\"980\">Check, Please!\u003c/em> table today are ASL interpreter and food writer \u003cstrong data-start=\"1029\" data-end=\"1045\">Anna Mindess\u003c/strong>, tech sales expert \u003cstrong data-start=\"1065\" data-end=\"1081\">Nima Alahari\u003c/strong>, and patient advocate \u003cstrong data-start=\"1104\" data-end=\"1122\">Jason Douglass\u003c/strong>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1313\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1144\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Welcome, everyone.\u003cbr data-start=\"1163\" data-end=\"1166\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1166\" data-end=\"1183\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003cbr data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1197\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1197\" data-end=\"1216\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003cbr data-start=\"1227\" data-end=\"1230\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1230\" data-end=\"1249\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Nice to be here?\u003cbr data-start=\"1266\" data-end=\"1269\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1269\" data-end=\"1288\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very excited to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1315\" data-end=\"1615\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1315\" data-end=\"1334\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Nima gets things started with his bustling breakfast spot. Offering American diner classics paired with over-the-top, Instagrammable lattes and shakes, it’s his favorite way to jump-start the day. Nestled in the heart of Fremont’s historic Niles neighborhood, it’s Skillet’z Cafe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1845\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1635\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Skillet’z is an American diner, old country cooking, but with a Mexican flair. The chefs are from Zacatecas, Mexico, and so they’ve brought a lot of the food that they grew up with, that their grandmas cooked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1847\" data-end=\"1888\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1847\" data-end=\"1855\">Man:\u003c/strong> My go-to is usually the burrito.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"2014\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1890\" data-end=\"1908\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Our food comes out super hot, super crispy, super flavorful. Breakfast made with lots of love and huevos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2093\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2034\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> How’s the food and everything?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2065\" data-end=\"2068\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2068\" data-end=\"2076\">Man:\u003c/strong> Good. Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2282\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2113\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> I was a regular customer for over 10 years. I would eat at Skillet’z at least once a week. There was an opportunity to become a partner, so I jumped at the opportunity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2284\" data-end=\"2357\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2284\" data-end=\"2302\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> This is the sausage omelette.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2332\" data-end=\"2335\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2335\" data-end=\"2345\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Yeah, here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2457\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2377\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> A lot of the dishes are named after some of our team members and staff members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2459\" data-end=\"2519\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2459\" data-end=\"2469\">Woman:\u003c/strong> I’m [indistinct], and you’re eating at Skillet’z.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2521\" data-end=\"2686\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2521\" data-end=\"2539\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> They just named a dish after me. It’s a scramble that comes with all meats and all veggies and a side of bacon. It’s called the Jonathan Scramble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2934\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2688\" data-end=\"2706\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> When I first came to Skillet’z, I was told that the salsa is so good you could drink it. And that is literally what I do every time. I will pour salsa all over my food. Highly recommend pairing it with all of our savory dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2936\" data-end=\"2951\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2953\" data-end=\"3043\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2953\" data-end=\"2971\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> We really treat all of our customers like family.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3021\" data-end=\"3024\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3024\" data-end=\"3034\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3045\" data-end=\"3265\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3045\" data-end=\"3063\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> They say that breakfast is the most important part of your day, and it’s just food that makes you feel good, food that makes you feel like you’re with family and having a great time.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3246\" data-end=\"3249\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3249\" data-end=\"3257\">All:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3267\" data-end=\"3347\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3267\" data-end=\"3285\">Jonathan Tsai:\u003c/strong> Alright. One, two, three, Skillet’z!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3322\" data-end=\"3325\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3325\" data-end=\"3335\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Good, good!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"70\" data-end=\"270\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"70\" data-end=\"89\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Nima. So, you’re a big brunch guy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong data-start=\"136\" data-end=\"153\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> That’s my thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"173\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"192\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. What is it about Skillet’z that brings you back time and time again?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"528\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"272\" data-end=\"289\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Skillet’z is a really, like, familial kind of place. You go there and you just feel like you’re comfortable and you’re at home. I always get a couple drinks to start off with. I can’t skip the vanilla latte, which is absolutely fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"1239\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"530\" data-end=\"549\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s your go-to, first thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"581\" data-end=\"584\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"584\" data-end=\"601\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> It’s my go-to.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"616\" data-end=\"619\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"619\" data-end=\"638\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I had the caramel latte.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"663\" data-end=\"666\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"666\" data-end=\"683\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah, the caramel latte. They’re really creamy, right? They have a nice foam on top. They always come with some, like, cookie or a wafer as well too, which is really nice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"855\" data-end=\"858\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"858\" data-end=\"877\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s right. Start your day with a cookie.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"921\" data-end=\"924\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"941\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I have to. I’m a sweets guy. So I need to start with a cookie. But I’ll get that and I’ll also get their freshly squeezed orange juice, which is the tangiest orange juice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1116\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1133\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had that. It was so fresh. Really good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1175\" data-end=\"1178\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1178\" data-end=\"1197\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> You could tell it was right off the tree.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1241\" data-end=\"1512\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1241\" data-end=\"1260\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, so you got your drinks in front of you. Then what’s the order?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1332\" data-end=\"1335\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1335\" data-end=\"1352\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> My order… Well, my brother-in-law will always say, “If you don’t know, you won’t know. You got to get the Monte Cristo.” So I always go for the Monte Cristo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"2182\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1514\" data-end=\"1531\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> What’s that?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1544\" data-end=\"1547\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1547\" data-end=\"1564\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Now, the Monte Cristo is ham, Swiss cheese, and turkey with French toast as the buns. I know, it’s a lot. I don’t care about the calories. I don’t read them. I just eat.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1734\" data-end=\"1737\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1737\" data-end=\"1756\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1766\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1766\" data-end=\"1783\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Okay, that’s my thing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1806\" data-end=\"1809\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1809\" data-end=\"1828\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Sweet and savory.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1846\" data-end=\"1849\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1849\" data-end=\"1866\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Sweet and savory. My two favorite things. And I have to get that every single time. It is delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1967\" data-end=\"1970\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1970\" data-end=\"1989\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Do they do the powdered sugar topping and the raspberry jam on the side?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2062\" data-end=\"2065\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2065\" data-end=\"2082\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Absolutely, raspberry jam. Absolutely fantastic.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2131\" data-end=\"2134\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2134\" data-end=\"2153\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And what did you have, Anna?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2659\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2184\" data-end=\"2201\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Well, I had a traditional breakfast. I had two over-easy eggs with bacon that was really thick. Nice mouthfeel there. And the hash browns, which I liked because they were very crispy on top. And then there’s an option that instead of toast, you can get a pancake, and I got a blueberry pancake. That was the best part. It was fluffy and, like, raised up. I don’t know how they do that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2587\" data-end=\"2590\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2590\" data-end=\"2609\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Souffléed, almost.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2628\" data-end=\"2631\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2631\" data-end=\"2648\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Souffléed!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2661\" data-end=\"2975\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2661\" data-end=\"2678\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> What I usually like is the Nutella strawberry banana pancakes. You get the drizzle on there.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2771\" data-end=\"2774\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2774\" data-end=\"2793\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> That sounds really good. I didn’t have that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2841\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2841\" data-end=\"2860\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I can tell you have a sweet tooth.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2895\" data-end=\"2898\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2898\" data-end=\"2915\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Definitely, definitely. [Laughter] I can’t live without it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"3451\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2977\" data-end=\"2996\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had the biscuits and gravy with over-easy eggs. Lovely biscuits. Fluffy. The gravy was a little lacking in salt, but that was balanced by having a really nice piece of ham on the side — thick, sweet ham. The one challenge with the eggs was one egg was hard and one egg was the over-easy egg, so it was a little bit of a discombobulated egg. And I thought, “How did they do that? How did we get that on the plate?” But we ate it, you know. It was good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3453\" data-end=\"3792\">We also had a mushroom and onion omelette, and you could tell that the onions were a sweet onion, like a Maui onion. Potatoes were not the crispy hash browns, but like a softer diced potato, and you could tell it was fresh. And then they serve a nice pico de gallo on the side that you can put over the entire plate. It made it very tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3794\" data-end=\"4696\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3794\" data-end=\"3811\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I want to tell you something about this restaurant. I’m a sign language interpreter, and Fremont has two wonderful schools, the California School for the Deaf and Ohlone College.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3990\" data-end=\"3993\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3993\" data-end=\"4012\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Mm-hmm.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4020\" data-end=\"4023\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4023\" data-end=\"4040\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And because of that, there are places that are called “deaf friendly.” So I took my friend Tom, and he’s deaf. The server saw us signing as we came in. She made this gesture to Tom, which is not really the sign for “What would you like to drink?” But he said it was understandable.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4322\" data-end=\"4325\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4325\" data-end=\"4344\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Sure.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4350\" data-end=\"4353\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4353\" data-end=\"4370\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And you don’t have to know sign language. Like, this woman didn’t know sign language, but you have to be into visual communication.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4502\" data-end=\"4505\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4505\" data-end=\"4524\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> But she was aware.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4543\" data-end=\"4546\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4546\" data-end=\"4565\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4570\" data-end=\"4573\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4573\" data-end=\"4590\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes, that was really nice.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4617\" data-end=\"4620\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4620\" data-end=\"4639\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Inclusive.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4650\" data-end=\"4653\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4653\" data-end=\"4670\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Very sensitive and aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4698\" data-end=\"5050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4698\" data-end=\"4717\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, that leads to the question of service.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4760\" data-end=\"4763\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4763\" data-end=\"4780\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Always fantastic. I just feel like it’s a family member treating us and serving us every time. You have to get there on time. It’s always going to be busy, especially on a weekend. It’s going to be packed,\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4986\" data-end=\"4989\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4989\" data-end=\"5008\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Which you guys might have noticed, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"363\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"91\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> The nice thing is, though, that they take your order beforehand, so you’re waiting outside, but someone will come and say, “Oh, is your order ready?” And so when you sit down, your food kind of comes very quickly versus having to wait, you know, to order once you’ve sat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"365\" data-end=\"971\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"365\" data-end=\"384\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s sort of the insider tip. You put in your order and you wait.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"452\" data-end=\"455\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"455\" data-end=\"472\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Nice and early, and you wait.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"502\" data-end=\"505\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"505\" data-end=\"524\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It’s a great town, actually, because there’s all the antique stores, and Charlie Chaplin filmed films there. That’s the amazing thing as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"667\" data-end=\"670\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"670\" data-end=\"687\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> The movie industry started there.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"721\" data-end=\"724\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"724\" data-end=\"743\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> In Niles?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"753\" data-end=\"756\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"756\" data-end=\"773\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> They have a museum.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"796\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"815\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> In Niles. Mm.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"829\" data-end=\"832\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"832\" data-end=\"851\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, a bit of history and a lot of sweetness.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"896\" data-end=\"899\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"916\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> And a lot of sweetness.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"940\" data-end=\"943\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"943\" data-end=\"962\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"973\" data-end=\"1124\">Well, if you would like to try Skillet’z Cafe, it’s located on Niles Boulevard in Fremont, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $35.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1504\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1126\" data-end=\"1145\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Anna’s been sampling the delicate, handmade dim sum at her restaurant for more than 10 years, and she still hasn’t tasted everything on the menu. The Cantonese specialties are made fresh to order and served steaming hot in beautiful, banquet hall-sized dining rooms. A mainstay in Oakland’s Chinatown for more than two decades, it’s Peony Seafood Restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1506\" data-end=\"1521\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1803\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1537\">Chris Xie:\u003c/strong> Peony Seafood Restaurant has been a staple in Oakland Chinatown for 30 years. We have a big menu — you know, dim sum, over 100 items. The “dim sum” means “to touch the heart.” When we have dim sum, usually we have tea, with lots of people, like a family or friends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1805\" data-end=\"2226\">Our dim sum chefs, they hand-prepare the dim sum daily. And my favorite, the xiaolongbao and the cheung fun. The cheung fun, we make it here with thin, large steamed rice noodles. They fill it with some sorts like shrimp, pork and beef. Outside is smooth, and inside should be meaty and crunchy. And we have the special sauce that is called XO sauce, just to add a flavor, or you can use that sauce for the dipping sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2228\" data-end=\"2341\">We have king crab, lobster. They can pick out the live fish from the fish tank. They can pick whatever they like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2480\">The kids love the animal-shaped dessert, especially the piggy buns and the coconut rabbit. That’s so fun. A lot of people take a picture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2482\" data-end=\"2823\">Peony Seafood Restaurant is the biggest restaurant in Oakland. It can hold up to like 500 people. And so we can catering any kind of party.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2621\" data-end=\"2624\">How’s everything so far? The job is like customer service, and some people, they come all the time to be treated like a family member. I want our customers to have a great meal and want to come back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2972\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2825\" data-end=\"2844\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Anna, this restaurant has a huge variety of dim sum. And are you a dim sum specialist? Is that what you consider yourself?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2974\" data-end=\"3278\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2974\" data-end=\"2991\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Well, I’m a dim sum lover. And I’ve tasted dim sum in Hong Kong, in Toronto, New York, San Francisco. And of all the places that I go, Peony is my absolute favorite.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3157\" data-end=\"3160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3160\" data-end=\"3179\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Wow.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3184\" data-end=\"3187\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3187\" data-end=\"3204\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I think they have very creative dishes that I haven’t seen anywhere else.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3280\" data-end=\"3578\">There’s a crispy daikon baton, then it’s wrapped in a sleeve of very fine, crispy rice noodles. Then it has a little squiggle of a sauce and little tiny fish eggs on top. And when you put it in your mouth, it’s like a symphony of different textures and flavors that all come together. It’s amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3580\" data-end=\"4009\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3580\" data-end=\"3599\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> And then, did you try also the salt and pepper custard tofu?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3660\" data-end=\"3663\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3663\" data-end=\"3680\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> No, I haven’t tried that one.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3710\" data-end=\"3713\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3713\" data-end=\"3732\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Oh, my God, I could’ve eaten plates of it. It was so good. I don’t know how they get it so crispy on the outside, but so tender on the inside. And it’s served with jalapenos and peanuts, I think it is, on top, and some green onions. I literally could’ve eaten a plate of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4011\" data-end=\"4195\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4011\" data-end=\"4030\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, and it’s an extensive menu, isn’t it?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4074\" data-end=\"4077\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4077\" data-end=\"4094\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> It’s a really big menu.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4118\" data-end=\"4121\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4121\" data-end=\"4140\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4146\" data-end=\"4149\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4149\" data-end=\"4166\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Everything was family style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"382\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"89\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> So I ended up getting the pan fried pork buns, which were absolutely incredible.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"170\" data-end=\"173\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"173\" data-end=\"190\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I like those.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"204\" data-end=\"207\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"207\" data-end=\"224\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Those were really crispy on one side and then just really fluffy, and you would tear them open. It would be hot in the center, and the texture was fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"384\" data-end=\"688\">I got the beef rice as well, which came with egg, too, and with that, it was sort of bland by itself. I’m a huge rice guy, too, especially with beef, but I got that with a side of their soy sauce and their house-made chili sauce, too, which I could have broken into the back and stolen. It was that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"4050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"709\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You want to put that on everything?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"745\" data-end=\"748\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"765\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I want to put that on everything, even the sweets.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"816\" data-end=\"819\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"819\" data-end=\"838\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had the barbecue pork puffs. It was like shatteringly tender. Pop in your mouth and it just broke, the crust. And the flavor was so good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"979\" data-end=\"982\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"982\" data-end=\"1001\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Ah!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1005\" data-end=\"1008\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1008\" data-end=\"1025\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I got the shrimp dumplings with cilantro. The shrimp was perfect. It wasn’t too gamy. It wasn’t too tough. It was really meaty. And those were delicious, too.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1187\" data-end=\"1204\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Another thing — I like shrimp in a lot of things. So I got the red rice yeast roll. So, I think there’s some health property to red rice. Okay, it’s this very satiny roll on the outside of red rice, and inside is the crispy shrimp. It’s like the interplay of different textures.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1483\" data-end=\"1486\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1505\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> There you go.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1519\" data-end=\"1522\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1522\" data-end=\"1539\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Did anybody have soup dumplings?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1572\" data-end=\"1575\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1575\" data-end=\"1594\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> No.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1598\" data-end=\"1601\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1618\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> No?!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1626\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1643\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I should have.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1658\" data-end=\"1661\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"1678\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, gosh!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1688\" data-end=\"1691\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1691\" data-end=\"1710\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> That’s a dish they’re known for, huh?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1748\" data-end=\"1751\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1768\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes. And it’s just… you know how you eat soup dumplings? You have to make a little hole, suck it out. It just melts in your mouth. Next time, you have to get that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1934\" data-end=\"1937\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1937\" data-end=\"1956\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes. Well, I’ll be going back.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1987\" data-end=\"1990\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1990\" data-end=\"2009\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think that Anna is going to be the guide for you guys.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2069\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2069\" data-end=\"2088\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Right?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2095\" data-end=\"2098\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2098\" data-end=\"2115\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> We’ll all go with you.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2138\" data-end=\"2141\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2141\" data-end=\"2160\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2169\" data-end=\"2172\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2172\" data-end=\"2189\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Okay. That sounds fun. You can come, too.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2231\" data-end=\"2234\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2234\" data-end=\"2253\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2265\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2265\" data-end=\"2282\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2291\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2291\" data-end=\"2310\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Did you happen to try the onion pancakes? ‘Cause when you were speaking about sauces, they serve the onion pancakes with a curry sauce, which is unusual, but it was so tasty.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2485\" data-end=\"2488\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2488\" data-end=\"2505\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I think their big personality at Peony Seafood was their desserts and their cute animals.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2595\" data-end=\"2598\">[excited chatter]\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2615\" data-end=\"2618\">Those were fantastic. The piggies were gorgeous, and you’d tear them apart and they were really fluffy. And the custard and egg was delicious. It was pretty light. It wasn’t too overbearing and too over-sweet, but it was a perfect end to the meal.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2865\" data-end=\"2868\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2868\" data-end=\"2885\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> That’s nice. And if you’re into social media, the bunnies, the coconut bunnies, they’re cute and they come on a little slice of carrot. And then if you take the plate and you jiggle it, then they wiggle, and it’s perfect. I mean, how many desserts can you have? But my favorite one is the pandan mochi.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3190\" data-end=\"3193\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3193\" data-end=\"3212\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We had that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3228\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3228\" data-end=\"3245\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yay! So, this is a green, pear-shaped mochi, and inside is warm custard. Oh, it’s just the best.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3342\" data-end=\"3345\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3345\" data-end=\"3364\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And you ordered a lot of food, but did you feel like you got value?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3432\" data-end=\"3435\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3435\" data-end=\"3452\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I think so. Yeah, we got a lot of food, and the value was perfect. I didn’t feel like I was snubbed.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3553\" data-end=\"3556\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3556\" data-end=\"3573\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Did you take anything home?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3601\" data-end=\"3604\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3604\" data-end=\"3621\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I did. I took all the rice home. One more piggy left. I had to show it to my family.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3706\" data-end=\"3709\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3709\" data-end=\"3728\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> A little bit of that chili sauce?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3762\" data-end=\"3765\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3765\" data-end=\"3782\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> A little bit of that chili sauce, and it was gone the instant I got home.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3856\" data-end=\"3859\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3859\" data-end=\"3878\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. If you would like to try Peony Seafood Restaurant, it’s located on 9th Street in Oakland’s Chinatown, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"92\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> When it comes to celebrating a special occasion, Jason knows just the place for an elegant yet unpretentious experience. Offering contemporary French fare for more than 40 years in San Jose, it’s \u003cem data-start=\"289\" data-end=\"302\">Le Papillon\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"305\" data-end=\"320\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"513\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"322\" data-end=\"339\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> \u003cem data-start=\"340\" data-end=\"353\">Le Papillon\u003c/em> was started in 1977 by our dad as sort of a continental restaurant, very popular at the time.\u003cbr data-start=\"447\" data-end=\"450\">Over time, it’s evolved into being kind of contemporary French.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"622\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"515\" data-end=\"536\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> Our cuisine has many influences, a lot of them from Scott’s travels and his passions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"624\" data-end=\"854\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"624\" data-end=\"641\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> Favorite dishes on the menu… chefs are all the same, though. We only like the last dish we created. [Laughs] That’s, like, the favorite dish, right? Quail egg toast with caviar. My favorite way to enjoy caviar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"882\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"866\">Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"988\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"884\" data-end=\"901\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> And you have to eat it in one bite, ’cause if you try and take a bite, you’ll wear it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"990\" data-end=\"1126\">We offer a six-course tasting menu. That’s what I get most excited about because I get to control every course. One last little garnish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1263\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1149\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> People love to share. There’s a lot of plate switching or fork traveling across the table, and we encourage that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1265\" data-end=\"1405\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1265\" data-end=\"1282\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> While we are contemporary French, we’re still true to our French roots. A reduction sauce kind of makes everything French.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1516\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1428\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> One of the things that we’re best known for since day one is our soufflé Grand Marnier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1518\" data-end=\"1831\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1518\" data-end=\"1535\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> Soufflé Grand Marnier is a tough dish to execute. It was on the opening menu, day one, in 1977, and it’s become a favorite and a classic. It’s light, it’s airy, but it gives you the real flavor of Grand Marnier. And if we ever take it off the menu, we will get full-scale revolt from our guests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1833\" data-end=\"1889\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1833\" data-end=\"1854\">Camron Mashayekh:\u003c/strong> There would be a massive backlash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1891\" data-end=\"1906\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1908\" data-end=\"2133\">I think a lot of people appreciate an elegant, quiet dining room. I think the key to great service goes unnoticed. You have this complete experience, and by the end of it, you think, “Wow, that was incredible and effortless.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2215\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2135\" data-end=\"2145\">Woman:\u003c/strong> Mmm, that’s so good!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2169\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2169\" data-end=\"2177\">Man:\u003c/strong> Everything they do is good, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2217\" data-end=\"2416\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2217\" data-end=\"2234\">Scott Cooper:\u003c/strong> I’m still here and we’re still cooking the food because we love making people happy and it makes us happy, carrying on the tradition. Here. \u003cem data-start=\"2375\" data-end=\"2389\">Le Papillon.\u003c/em> The \u003cem data-start=\"2394\" data-end=\"2416\">pièce de résistance.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2418\" data-end=\"2897\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2418\" data-end=\"2437\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Jason, it’s interesting because for a restaurant in the Bay Area to be around 40 years, they have to be doing something right. Correct?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2578\" data-end=\"2581\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2581\" data-end=\"2600\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very true. I mean, especially in today’s day and age where restaurants seem to open and close at the drop of a hat. They have been around for 40 years, and over those years, I’ve been going for 14 years to the restaurant, and I love it. It’s never changed. It’s always beautiful. Just, I love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2899\" data-end=\"3112\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2899\" data-end=\"2918\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you get that feeling when you walked into the restaurant?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2980\" data-end=\"2983\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2983\" data-end=\"3000\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3012\" data-end=\"3015\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3015\" data-end=\"3034\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> This is special.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3051\" data-end=\"3054\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3054\" data-end=\"3071\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Definitely.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3086\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3086\" data-end=\"3103\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3114\" data-end=\"3370\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3114\" data-end=\"3131\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I’ve never been to any kind of fine dining, especially French restaurant, in my life before. And it actually lined up with my girlfriend’s birthday when we went, so it was a really special occasion and a really special time where we went.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3780\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3372\" data-end=\"3391\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Because you can choose either a tasting menu or you can choose a prix fixe menu. Correct?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3481\" data-end=\"3484\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3484\" data-end=\"3503\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Yes. Yes. I love the fact that they bring you a beautiful amuse-bouche when you sit down. Our particular evening, we had a lovely lobster bisque with beautiful lobster. Such a silky texture. And the lobster was perfect. Very tender, very of the sea. Just a lovely little bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3905\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3782\" data-end=\"3801\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you amuse your bouche?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3828\" data-end=\"3831\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3831\" data-end=\"3848\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> My bouche was amused.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3870\" data-end=\"3873\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3873\" data-end=\"3892\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Very amused.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3907\" data-end=\"4153\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3907\" data-end=\"3926\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you have for an amuse bouche?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"3965\" data-end=\"3968\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3968\" data-end=\"3985\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I can’t remember exactly, but it was little fish eggs that… on a little creamy… I mean, the tiniest little dish. I like small bites of things, so that was perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4155\" data-end=\"4650\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4155\" data-end=\"4172\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> My bouche was amused as well, actually. I had the mussel and saffron soup with a side of olive bread.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4274\" data-end=\"4277\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4277\" data-end=\"4296\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Oh!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4300\" data-end=\"4303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4303\" data-end=\"4320\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> And being Persian, saffron is a big part of my culture, so it really took me home. I actually asked for seconds on the soup. I don’t know if that’s something you can do, but it was absolutely delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4523\" data-end=\"4526\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4526\" data-end=\"4545\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I’m sure the chef loved that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4575\" data-end=\"4578\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4578\" data-end=\"4595\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yes, it was amazing.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"4616\" data-end=\"4619\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4619\" data-end=\"4638\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4652\" data-end=\"4840\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4652\" data-end=\"4671\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> We typically do the four-course menu. I love it. We had the butternut squash soup. Very creamy, very silky, like a curry or a cardamom, which goes well with the squash.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4842\" data-end=\"5153\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4842\" data-end=\"4859\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I first started with the Dungeness crab soufflé with caviar and lemon. It’s my first time actually having caviar, and I actually enjoyed it. It was really good.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5020\" data-end=\"5023\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5023\" data-end=\"5042\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Caviar virgin.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5057\" data-end=\"5060\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5060\" data-end=\"5077\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5083\" data-end=\"5086\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5086\" data-end=\"5105\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> No longer.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5116\" data-end=\"5119\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5119\" data-end=\"5136\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> No longer. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5155\" data-end=\"5550\">And I was actually really delicious. I’m big on textures, and the texture of the crab wasn’t really to my liking so much, but the broth and the soup, it kind of came with as well, the dipping and the bread of the Dungeness crab soufflé was absolutely delicious.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5416\" data-end=\"5419\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5419\" data-end=\"5438\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, all together, it worked.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5467\" data-end=\"5470\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5470\" data-end=\"5487\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> All together, it worked well and it got me going for the rest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5552\" data-end=\"5794\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5552\" data-end=\"5569\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had an interesting appetizer. It was raw fish, kind of chopped up, made into a patty that was kanpachi,\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5675\" data-end=\"5678\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5678\" data-end=\"5697\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> I had that as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5717\" data-end=\"5720\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5720\" data-end=\"5737\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Oh, the round thing?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5758\" data-end=\"5761\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5761\" data-end=\"5780\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> The kanpachi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"5796\" data-end=\"6174\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5796\" data-end=\"5813\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> And then they sprinkled it with flower petals, lemongrass, a little squiggle of tamarind, and then avocado sorbet, a scoop in the middle. Really unusual.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"5967\" data-end=\"5970\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"5970\" data-end=\"5989\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> It was so good. I had that as well. It was really tasty.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6046\" data-end=\"6049\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6049\" data-end=\"6068\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6074\" data-end=\"6077\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6077\" data-end=\"6094\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Gorgeously plated. I noticed that, as well.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"6138\" data-end=\"6141\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"6141\" data-end=\"6160\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yes. Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"309\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"73\" data-end=\"92\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What was next after your first course or appetizer course?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"151\" data-end=\"154\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"154\" data-end=\"173\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Halibut with an herb crust. It was so tender. And it was served with cherry tomatoes and potato, like, pavé. It was really quite tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"560\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"328\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I had beef tenderloin, which was perfectly cooked, absolutely. And it was interesting because it had a stewed plum, I think it was, on top, which oddly went together really well. Had potato pavé on the other side and was delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"562\" data-end=\"778\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"562\" data-end=\"579\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I actually also had the beef tenderloin as well. And that, I must say, was the star of the show. I’m big on my steaks. That was a steak you would cut into and it just melted in your mouth instantly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"1357\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"799\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, now let’s talk about those desserts.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"845\" data-end=\"848\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"848\" data-end=\"865\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"870\" data-end=\"873\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"873\" data-end=\"892\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Who wants to go first?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"915\" data-end=\"918\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"918\" data-end=\"935\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> I do, I do! Okay. So, the name on the menu made me think of a different image. It said terrine of black sesame.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1050\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1050\" data-end=\"1069\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Mm!\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1073\" data-end=\"1076\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1076\" data-end=\"1093\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> So I imagined, you know, it’ll be a pot with black sesame. And what I was served was surprising. Yeah, it had just delicate little bricks of black sesame and a little chocolate and banana custard, I think it was. And all those flavors together worked really well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1359\" data-end=\"1741\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1359\" data-end=\"1376\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Well, I actually didn’t expect to get any dessert this time. Surprising for me, I know, but compliments from the chef, because their service was so fantastic, they actually brought us out a small birthday cheesecake platter with some honeycomb, a little candle just to commemorate my girlfriend’s birthday. That really set it straight. It was absolutely fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1743\" data-end=\"1974\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1743\" data-end=\"1762\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And I hope you told her you planned that.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1804\" data-end=\"1807\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1824\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Uh…yeah. I missed my mark on that one.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1865\" data-end=\"1868\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1868\" data-end=\"1887\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You could have taken responsibility.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"1924\" data-end=\"1927\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1927\" data-end=\"1944\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I should have. I should have.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1976\" data-end=\"2164\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1976\" data-end=\"1995\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> They never go wrong with dessert. Well, they never go wrong with any dish, really. We have never had a bad dish in 14 years of going there, and it keeps us coming back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2535\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2166\" data-end=\"2183\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Might have been the most expensive restaurant I’ve ever eaten in.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2249\" data-end=\"2252\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2252\" data-end=\"2269\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I agree.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2278\" data-end=\"2281\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2281\" data-end=\"2300\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, a special occasion. Again, setting the stage here.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2355\" data-end=\"2358\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2358\" data-end=\"2375\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it was awesome.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2397\" data-end=\"2400\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2400\" data-end=\"2417\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Birthday, anniversary. That’s the kind of place.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2466\" data-end=\"2469\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2469\" data-end=\"2488\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Worth it?\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2498\" data-end=\"2501\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2501\" data-end=\"2518\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Yeah. [Laughter]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2936\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2554\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> I would say might not go back, just due to the price, but that beef tenderloin made it worth it 100%.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2656\" data-end=\"2659\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2659\" data-end=\"2678\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, it made it very special for you.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2717\" data-end=\"2720\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2720\" data-end=\"2737\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Very special.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2751\" data-end=\"2754\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2754\" data-end=\"2771\">Anna Mindess:\u003c/strong> Life is short.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2786\" data-end=\"2789\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2789\" data-end=\"2808\">Jason Douglass:\u003c/strong> Life is short. Our coffins don’t have pockets.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2855\" data-end=\"2858\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2858\" data-end=\"2877\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> There you go. There you go.\u003cbr>\n\u003cbr data-start=\"2905\" data-end=\"2908\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2908\" data-end=\"2925\">Nima Alahari:\u003c/strong> Well said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"3104\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2938\" data-end=\"2957\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> If you would like to try \u003cem data-start=\"2983\" data-end=\"2996\">Le Papillon\u003c/em>, it’s located on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $150.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3106\" data-end=\"3267\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3106\" data-end=\"3125\">Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now, reporter \u003cstrong data-start=\"3144\" data-end=\"3164\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong> takes us back to Fremont’s historic Niles neighborhood for more Bay Area bites you’ve just got to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3269\" data-end=\"3284\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"307\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"106\" data-end=\"126\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Whoo! We’re here at the Flying A, which is kind of the cornerstone of the end of Niles. Lots of culture, lots of nostalgia. Tell me a little bit about what makes Niles so special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"791\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"326\">Krysten Laine\u003c/strong>: Niles was the original Hollywood. Charlie Chaplin was brought here to do his first film, \u003cem data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"428\">The Tramp\u003c/em>, and they used to film Westerns here that are featured in Niles Canyon. And a lot of these buildings are still here that were there back in the day. This gas station was built in 1938. We brought the car culture back with the Niles Flying A, and every month we have Classics & Coffee, where people bring their classic cars, kick back, relax and have a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"961\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"793\" data-end=\"813\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So, that’s so cool. So, people can come, bring their cars, get a little bit of coffee and get some treats from the farmers market down the street.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"993\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"963\" data-end=\"980\">Krysten Laine\u003c/strong>: Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"995\" data-end=\"1010\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1012\" data-end=\"1104\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1012\" data-end=\"1025\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: Our business is Dough Wei Me Bakery, and we sell artisan donuts and pastries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1160\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1126\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: How do they make them so fluffy?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1162\" data-end=\"1192\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1162\" data-end=\"1175\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: It’s the yeast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1274\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1214\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay, so it’s a yeasted doughnut, kind of like a malasada?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1389\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1289\">Ken Phung\u003c/strong>: It’s a malasada. It has eggs, sugar. And so the yeast eats the sugar, has CO2 and make it pouf up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1411\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1399\">Both\u003c/strong>: Thank you!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1532\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1413\" data-end=\"1426\">Zoe Phung\u003c/strong>: This is our ube coconut mochi, our tiramisu, our chocolate hazelnut banana, and our pistachio raspberry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1534\" data-end=\"1585\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1534\" data-end=\"1554\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay, which one should I try?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1621\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1600\">Zoe Phung\u003c/strong>: Maybe the tiramisu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1706\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1623\" data-end=\"1643\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Dough Wei Me! Oh, my gosh, there’s sugar everywhere. [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"1740\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"1715\">Man\u003c/strong>: Blueberry cream cheese.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1742\" data-end=\"1777\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1742\" data-end=\"1751\">Woman\u003c/strong>: We’ll take one of those.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1796\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1779\" data-end=\"1786\">Man\u003c/strong>: Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1877\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1798\" data-end=\"1818\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Niles Pie Company. You’ve been around for a little while.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"1991\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1879\" data-end=\"1894\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: We’ve been around for about 15 years. We’re a worker cooperative. All butter, all scratch-made.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2047\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"1993\" data-end=\"2013\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: All butter sounds good. [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2260\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2064\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: We’ve got our brand-new bacon béchamel savory pastry. It’s got a little bit of our house-made béchamel, chives, hickory-smoked bacon, everything bagel seasoning, and our house-made pastry crust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2302\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2282\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: And this one here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2428\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2304\" data-end=\"2319\">Sarah Vegas\u003c/strong>: And there is our beef and potato pasty with ground sirloin, Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, herbs and spices.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2430\" data-end=\"2565\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2430\" data-end=\"2450\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes. Ooh! That spice really comes through on the top, too. We’re at MAD Creationz. What makes your creations mad?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2567\" data-end=\"2804\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2567\" data-end=\"2584\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: It’s really — It stands for “Make a Difference.” During COVID, me and my wife started a non-profit. So 5% of our proceeds goes to that nonprofit. We like to provide food for less-fortunate families during the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2806\" data-end=\"2886\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2806\" data-end=\"2826\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So you’re not mad at all. You’re quite happy, nice people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"3081\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"2905\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Yeah, exactly. Barbecue is our number-one thing we like to make. Brisket, primarily. Low and slow. No shortcuts. I have the Space Cowboy right here, which is our smashburger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3120\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3083\" data-end=\"3103\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: And in my hand?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3122\" data-end=\"3251\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3122\" data-end=\"3139\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: That is our legendary four-cheese macaroni and cheese with our smoked brisket and our homemade barbecue sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3303\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3253\" data-end=\"3273\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: So, what cheeses do you use?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3305\" data-end=\"3438\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3305\" data-end=\"3322\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: I’ll tell you two out of the four. Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, and then there’s two others that are very secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3440\" data-end=\"3545\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3440\" data-end=\"3460\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: But if I’m able to taste this and guess what they are, you’ll tell me if I’m right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3583\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3547\" data-end=\"3564\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Yes, ma’am. 100%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3585\" data-end=\"3674\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3585\" data-end=\"3605\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Alright. Look at all this cheese. Mmm! Is one of them cream cheese?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3676\" data-end=\"3703\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3676\" data-end=\"3693\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3705\" data-end=\"3740\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3705\" data-end=\"3725\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes! [Laughs]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3742\" data-end=\"3785\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3742\" data-end=\"3759\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: That was the secret one!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3787\" data-end=\"3953\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3787\" data-end=\"3807\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Yes! Alright. You know what? Here’s the thing — for the viewers, we’re going to leave the other one a secret. Okay? I’m not even going to guess.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3955\" data-end=\"3979\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3955\" data-end=\"3972\">Marcus Dunlap\u003c/strong>: Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"3981\" data-end=\"4008\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"3981\" data-end=\"4001\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4010\" data-end=\"4025\">[music playing]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4027\" data-end=\"4142\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4027\" data-end=\"4047\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: I don’t drink coffee. So I heard that, like, there’s an alternative here that can wake me up?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4144\" data-end=\"4261\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4144\" data-end=\"4154\">Jordan\u003c/strong>: Mm-hmm. I’ve got wheatgrass shots and ginger shots for you. It’s grown with love, so you will taste that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4263\" data-end=\"4316\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4263\" data-end=\"4283\">Cecilia Phillips\u003c/strong>: Okay. My first wheatgrass shot!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4355\">\u003cstrong data-start=\"4318\" data-end=\"4328\">Jordan\u003c/strong>: Aw, you couldn’t fake it!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">For two decades, \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> has been your go-to guide for uncovering the Bay Area’s best dining spots and we’re celebrating this milestone with a fresh lineup in April! The James Beard and Emmy Award-winning series is back with fresh restaurant discoveries, from Michelin-level tasting menus to local comfort food favorites.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Each week, three Bay Area locals join host Leslie Sbrocco to share their top restaurant picks, swap stories, and debate their dining experiences. From elegant, French-inspired tasting menus in San Jose, handmade pastas that transport you straight to Italy in Berkeley, and plant-based dishes that redefine expectations in Burlingame, this season is packed with bold flavors and must-try spots.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Get ready for a season packed with unforgettable meals, hidden gems, and lively food-loving guests. Catch four new episodes to kick off the season starting \u003c/span>\u003cb>April 10, Thursdays at 7:30 PM on KQED 9\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Hungry for a preview? Here’s what’s on our plate this season:\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ1qDqTFIXc\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 10\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Ethel’s Fancy\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Palo Alto\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a Michelin-trained chef puts a modern twist on Japanese American cuisine, serving up dishes like charcoal-grilled prawns and black sesame soft serve.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Cato’s Ale House\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an \u003c/span>\u003cb>Oakland\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> institution since 1994, keeps locals coming back with its rotating craft beer selection, the satisfying Retroburger, and the crispy-yet-juicy Hallelujah! fried chicken sandwich.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sushi lovers — both seafood fans and plant-based eaters — find something to love at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Berkeley\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s \u003c/span>\u003cb>Kiku Sushi\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, known for its sake toro nigiri, crispy rice with avocado, and creative vegetarian rolls.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 17\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Big, bold breakfasts define \u003c/span>\u003cb>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Fremont\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s historic Niles District, where locals enjoy caramel lattes alongside decadent Monte Cristo sandwiches, and Nutella-strawberry-banana pancakes.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peony Seafood\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Oakland\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s Chinatown serves up a classic dim sum experience with handmade shrimp dumplings, salt-and-pepper custard tofu, and fried daikon cake wrapped in crispy rice noodles.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Jose\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the fine-dining gem \u003c/span>\u003cb>Le Papillon\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> impresses with its elegant French-inspired tasting menus, featuring Dungeness crab soufflé, grilled beef tenderloin, and a stunning black sesame terrine.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Cecilia Tries It” explores the \u003c/span>\u003cb>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, sampling fresh malasadas and savory hand pies while taking in the local vintage car scene.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 24\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">A taste of Hawaii awaits at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Got Plate Lunch\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Benicia\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, where the ultimate loco moco — beef patties, grilled Spam, and fried eggs — is a must-try alongside crispy kalua pork tots.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Berkeley\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s \u003c/span>\u003cb>Via del Corso\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> transports diners to central Italy with handmade pastas, slow-braised meats, and highlights like ravioli alla coda di bue and garlicky tagliolini alle vongole.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Curry Leaves Bistro\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Pleasanton\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, wok hei reigns supreme in smoky char kway teow, while crispy roti canai with fragrant chicken curry brings the bold flavors of Penang, Malaysia.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>May 1\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Kahnfections\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Francisco\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s Mission District, the air is filled with the scent of buttery pastries, from chocolate croissants to indulgent bacon-cheddar-scallion biscuit sandwiches.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>Burlingame\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, \u003c/span>\u003cb>Twelvemonth\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> redefines plant-based dining with creative vegetable-forward dishes like crispy maitake mushrooms and the umami-packed panzanella alla puttanesca.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Pucquio\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Oakland\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s Rockridge neighborhood delivers vibrant Peruvian flavors, balancing citrus and spice in cebiche de pescado and showcasing deep, rich comfort in chupe de camarones.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Cecilia Tries It” dives into the high-energy world of \u003c/span>\u003cb>Bhangra and Beats\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Francisco\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> festival pulsing with Punjabi rhythms, electrifying dance performances, and a bustling night bazaar.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Have a restaurant you think deserves the spotlight? Nominate your favorite spots and apply to be a guest at \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/checkplease/apply\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">kqed.org/checkplease/apply\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">!\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 10\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">At \u003c/span>\u003cb>Ethel’s Fancy\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Palo Alto\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, a Michelin-trained chef puts a modern twist on Japanese American cuisine, serving up dishes like charcoal-grilled prawns and black sesame soft serve.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Cato’s Ale House\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an \u003c/span>\u003cb>Oakland\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> institution since 1994, keeps locals coming back with its rotating craft beer selection, the satisfying Retroburger, and the crispy-yet-juicy Hallelujah! fried chicken sandwich.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sushi lovers — both seafood fans and plant-based eaters — find something to love at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Berkeley\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s \u003c/span>\u003cb>Kiku Sushi\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, known for its sake toro nigiri, crispy rice with avocado, and creative vegetarian rolls.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 17\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Big, bold breakfasts define \u003c/span>\u003cb>Skillet’z Cafe\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Fremont\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s historic Niles District, where locals enjoy caramel lattes alongside decadent Monte Cristo sandwiches, and Nutella-strawberry-banana pancakes.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cb>Peony Seafood\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in \u003c/span>\u003cb>Oakland\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">’s Chinatown serves up a classic dim sum experience with handmade shrimp dumplings, salt-and-pepper custard tofu, and fried daikon cake wrapped in crispy rice noodles.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">In \u003c/span>\u003cb>San Jose\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the fine-dining gem \u003c/span>\u003cb>Le Papillon\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> impresses with its elegant French-inspired tasting menus, featuring Dungeness crab soufflé, grilled beef tenderloin, and a stunning black sesame terrine.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Cecilia Tries It” explores the \u003c/span>\u003cb>Niles Farmers Market\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">, sampling fresh malasadas and savory hand pies while taking in the local vintage car scene.\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>April 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From Indonesian-Texas fusion to East Coast Jewish deli favorites, we’ve scoured the Bay Area to find the season’s standout spots.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tune in for four tasty new episodes, \u003c/span>\u003cb>Thursdays beginning February 6 at 7:30pm on KQED 9\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the menu:\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"315\" height=\"560\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/YsCPu6Easl0\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>February 6\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Traditional Indonesian flavors meet Texas barbecue with highlights such as dino ribs, smoked brisket, and nasi goreng at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Fikscue\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Alameda)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Guests trade a trinket for entry to enjoy tapas including tortilla española and jamón serrano at \u003c/span>\u003cb>The Pawnshop\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Francisco)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Playful takes on breakfast classics, from donut burgers to Nutella-stuffed french toast, at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Apple Fritter\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Mateo)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>February 13\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> East Coast Jewish deli favorites, including matzo ball soup, pickled fish boards and cinnamon babka, at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Grossman’s Noshery & Bar\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Santa Rosa)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Soulful comfort dishes, from fall-off-the-bone oxtails to creamy mac and cheese, at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Jackie’s Place\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Jose)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fresh Californian-inspired American cuisine featuring pork belly buns and succulent red wine-braised short ribs at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Crescent Bistro\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Pleasant Hill)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">“Cecilia Tries It” explores fresh produce, local goods and culinary delights at the historic \u003c/span>\u003cb>Ferry Plaza Farmers Market\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Francisco)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>February 20\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Bold and aromatic Laotian flavors such as papaya salad and crispy pork belly at the vibrant \u003c/span>\u003cb>Bhan Mae Vane\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Alameda)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Italian-American comfort food in quirky digs, including Cadillac lasagna and steak served with pesto spaghetti, at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Emmy’s Spaghetti Shack\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Francisco)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An artfully curated selection of wines and cocktails paired with shareable plates from tender lamb meatballs to creamy elote at \u003c/span>\u003cb>District\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Oakland)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>February 27\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> A creative take on soulful comfort food like hoecake, gumbo fries and grilled shrimp po’boys at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Gumbo Social\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (San Francisco)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Decadent dishes, from lobster pot pie to crème brûlée French toast, paired with stunning waterfront views at \u003c/span>\u003cb>The Bungalow Kitchen\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Tiburon)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">An inventive and fresh take on farm-to-table offerings, including “ugly” mushroom-filled pasta and Hokkaido milk bread rolls, at \u003c/span>\u003cb>Pomet\u003c/b>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Oakland)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Got a favorite restaurant we haven’t featured yet? 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"headTitle": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: ROOH, The Barn, Kusan Uyghur Cuisine | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 12, airs Thursday, November 28, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On this episode of \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">our guests start their culinary adventure in Palo Alto at \u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong>, a modern Indian restaurant where traditional flavors meet innovative techniques in dishes like paneer chili rolls, jackfruit toast and chicken tikka kulcha. Next, they head to \u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> in Half Moon Bay, a rustic, farm-to-table eatery offering seasonal American comfort food, from juicy burgers with barn-pickled jalapeños to fried mac and cheese, all enjoyed in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The journey continues in San Jose at \u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong>, where diners experience the rich, bold flavors of Central Asian dishes like hand-pulled noodles and big plate chicken. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips visits the \u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> in Rohnert Park, where she samples a diverse array of gourmet eats, from local Sonoma bites to globally inspired street food.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23282\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23282\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Avani Tumuluri, Jacob Gorneau and Eliza Bulanti from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://roohrestaurants.com/\">\u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong> (Palo Alto)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thebarnhmb.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> (Half Moon Bay)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://kusanuyghur.com/\">\u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.thesocomarket.com/forkn-good-food-festival\">\u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> (Rohnert Park)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-800x906.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"906\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-800x906.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1020x1155.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-160x181.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-768x869.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1357x1536.jpeg 1357w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1809x2048.jpeg 1809w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1920x2174.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.scaiawine.com/en/product/scaia-garganega-e-chardonnay\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Scaia 2022 Garganega / Chardonnay\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Trevenezie IGT, Italy $15\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking for a deliciously light and bright white that still shows character? This affordable wine is one to buy in batches. Enjoy it as an aperitif or serve it alongside fish in lemon sauce, fried calamari, and fresh salads. The grape variety Chardonnay is familiar, but the native Italian white grape Garganega is known to Italian wine lovers for making sassy Soave and other Veneto whites. Their perfect pairing is what makes the wine so special.\u003c/span>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://benoviawinery.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Benovia 2019 “Blanc de Blancs” Sparkling Wine\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cem>Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California $60\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nAs one of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, Benovia is a Sonoma star. Its richly styled sparkling white has expressive aromas of lemon cream pie, peach blossom, and toasted nuts. It’s a wine to start the meal and continue enjoying throughout, whether you’re serving a hearty brunch casserole or a dinner of veal scallopini or pork loin. Elegance in your glass — all with the pop of a cork.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.estournel.com/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>G d’Estournel 2020\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Médoc, Bordeaux, France $39\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nOne of France’s heralded Bordeaux reds is Cos d’Estournel. Opulent and ageworthy, it’s a coveted collector wine. An alluring alternative that shares the same heritage without the same price tag is G d’Estournel. The appealing front label tells a story all its own. According to their website, “G d’Estournel evokes the wonderment of an explorer returned home from the Far East, his soul replete with luminous memories of majestic Indian elephants, shimmering Burmese gold, the finest of Nepalese silks, the warm glow of Vietnamese lanterns.” Each vintage is a slightly different blend of red Bordeaux grapes, but the stylish 2020 is Merlot dominant with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush and subtly smooth, it is a red to relish.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Contemporary Indian plates in Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Did it live up to the hype?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It so lived up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Burgers al fresco in Half Moon Bay\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And Central Asian cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And it really knocked my socks off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> You heard it here first. This smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it smacks. \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today are three very studious guests—dental student Avani Tumuluri, psychology and brain science student Eliza Bulanti, and scorpion researcher grad student Jacob Gorneau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Avani’s restaurant offers a tempting fusion of Indian and California cuisine. Add in Ayurveda-inspired cocktails, vibrant decor, and it’s the perfect place for a family dinner or a first date. Located in downtown Palo Alto, it’s ROOH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Rooh means “soul” in Persian, and in India also.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> I think ROOH is passion. It’s passion for food, it’s passion for hospitality, it’s passion for putting a twist on traditional food that goes back hundreds of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Alright? Perfect. I grew up in Mumbai. I’m Gujarati. Our food culture was something which had sweet, sour, and spicy—all umami flavors together. At ROOH, we have covered all the regions of India and many lost recipes which people have forgotten to cook.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> We always like to think of nostalgic, but we wrapped it in this beautiful presentation with these vibrant colors and just a tiny bit of a modern twist to all these beautiful traditional dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Oh! Yo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Also the street food which people used to enjoy during their childhood. That first taste takes them to their childhood memories of family or the place where I was born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> We all know that Indian cuisine is a lot of vegetarian items, but I think we’ve turned it into such a fun and exciting way of eating vegetarian food that never gets old. It’s always amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> In Sanskrit, we always say Atithi Devo Bhava. That means the guests should be treated like God. That’s how we follow it as part of our hospitality culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> It’s so great when people walk in, they’re like, “This is my first time here and I have to be back.” You know, it’s exciting to see people be excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Avani. I mean, this place is really a creative take, right, on Indian street food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah. I think that I love that it’s a progressive Indian cuisine, but it kind of has a mix of the inspiration of California culture with the Indian culture. I love the decor. I love the atmosphere. You walk in, and it’s just like this shroud of reds and these antique decorations and mirrors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It puts you in the mood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it really puts you in the mood. It really does. I’m ready to eat. I’m ready to have fun.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You’re ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> And I absolutely always go for the Paneer Chili Roll. It looks like a pinwheel, which is really cool because I feel like it marries in the American culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, like a lunch snack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it’s like a classic Lunchable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think it’s a snackable or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah! Snackable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I hear Eliza going, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Did you have this as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I did, and it was phenomenal. I thought that the flavors and the textures, I loved how they wrapped them all up, because the paneer wasn’t super overwhelming, and the crispiness of the kataifi, too, with kind of the smoothness of the paneer was perfect. And then what really put it over the top for me was the chili garlic chutney that it came with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The flavor of that was phenomenal and just paired with the textures, it was a work of art, like every other dish I had here too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had the Assorted Papad, which came with three different chutneys and a bunch of different crispy crackers that were variously seasoned. My favorite one was the chili peanut one. I love peanut flavor, but in particular this peanut was so rich and decadent it almost had like a chocolatey richness to it, which was really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I loved this menu and that it really emphasized small plates. So my family and I got a lot of them to share, which as an adventurous eater, was so fun for me to get to try so many different things. I think my favorite had to be the Chicken Tikka Kulcha. It was like this warm, round flatbread stuffed with this really flavorful shredded chicken. And then it had this beautiful dollop of za’atar butter and pickled onions on top, and it came out warm so that the butter kind of melted in and the flavors just melded perfectly. It was glorious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So did you get the most of it and then your parents just a little bit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Exactly. Everyone took a little bite, and I was like, “This one is for me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And then I also—probably the most beautiful dish I got was the Potato Tikki Chaat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> It was like a cube of really thinly sliced potatoes, and it sat atop this yogurt sauce that was almost like a whipped cream consistency, drizzled with a tamarind sauce and some raspberry seeds. The flavors and the textures were incredible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I really like the Jackfruit Toast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I love jackfruit. I feel like if you’re able to season it right, it can be very meaty, and the jackfruit itself is very nicely spiced. And then with that buttery bread on the bottom, oh my gosh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s a nice combination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had a Duck Seekh Kebab. I always like duck. I know sometimes people feel like it’s a little on the fatty side of things, but it was just this incredible flavor bomb, the meat itself, and there was some mixed berry chutney on top as well. And so it was really this beautiful balance between tang and spice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> That sounds amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Definitely my favorite dish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did they order right? So far?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> They ordered right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Okay, good. Okay, good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> My mouth is watering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> If you guys ever go again, you should definitely order the Malai Broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Ooh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Now, I know it sounds like, “Why would I pay for a broccoli?” But it’s this giant piece, and it’s placed on this creamy daal, which is like lentil-based sauce, and it’s very nicely spiced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Get the broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have to try that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I also had a delicious mocktail that went perfectly with the dishes I got. It was the Pink Guava mocktail, and it had these hints of masala spices in it, which I think cut the sweetness of the guava perfectly and really paired nicely with this meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I’m so excited, ’cause I had the same one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> No way! Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> No way! It was so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I tried the Mulberry Sour, which was really refreshing and bright to kind of complement some of those warmer spices. And the thing that really blew my socks off was the Patna Fizz, which is a lychee-flavored cocktail that also has, I believe, some mushroom essence in it. Beautifully purple. Like, it was really amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Wow!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And dessert?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Oh, of course. Of course I had dessert. I always go for the kulfi. If you guys don’t know what it is, it’s sort of an Indian ice cream, and the flavors that they have are like pistachio or saffron, flavors that you wouldn’t really get at your normal supermarket, and it’s just always decorated so beautifully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> My takeaway was this is amazing. This is a great special-occasion venue. And I wouldn’t necessarily go there on a first date, but I would definitely take someone I really love there and, you know, show my love through these dishes. Like, it’s really a love letter to food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. If you would like to try ROOH, it’s located on University Avenue in Palo Alto, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $60.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza is a big-time burger lover, and she says the absolute best can be found at her casual coastal eatery. Located in Half Moon Bay, it’s The Barn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> The Barn is casual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man #2:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Can I steal one of your fries for the dog?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> It’s communal, above all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> It’s put itself on the map as a little oasis and really just part of our ethos, which is…happy people make good food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s so delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> Matter of fact, I find that the best food is generally the simplest. We make everything that we possibly can, and our ingredients come from local purveyors as much as possible. We make the best burger on the coast. I know that could be an arguable statement, but I’m happy to take on anyone else that wants to challenge it. And it’s not because of some secret ingredient. We use our homemade American cheese, sauces, high-quality bun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I like the beef.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> For sure, one of the highlights for me and a lot of customers is the veggie burger. We cook down a lot of ingredients, primarily mushrooms and farro for building texture. And I’m not a vegetarian, so I honestly have that with a little bacon on top, and it’s fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Can we talk about the milkshakes? Because there’s something about the milkshakes which you don’t find anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> It’s Marianne’s Ice Cream from Santa Cruz, and a splash or two of milk just to be able to blend it together. And then we make our own ingredients to create the flavor, so if it’s chocolate, we’ll make separate chocolate ganache that then gets put into the ice cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Of course, homemade whipped cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> Well, yeah. You need to have that a little bit more fun on top.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Why not? I mean, for the person who has bacon on a veggie burger…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> True.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> …whipped cream on a milkshake is par for the course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> So Half Moon Bay, we are on the coast. Restaurant is about a five-minute walk from the sand. Dutch word, it’s called Gezellig. It means “warm,” “comfortable,” “family,” and that’s what this place means to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza, this spot feels like, you know, you’ve gone to the beach…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …you’ve hung out those gorgeous beaches in Half Moon Bay, and now you need something to eat, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes. 100%. That’s one of my favorite parts about this restaurant is you can really do it all here, whether that’s after a hike by the beach or just hanging out for the day. You can kind of get a sense of that local vibe that represents the quaint town of Half Moon Bay, I think, really well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. What is your favorite?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes. Okay. What’s kept me coming back for years? It’s The Pretender. So although I am a beef hamburger-loving person, The Pretender, it is my must-have here. It’s kind of a hearty patty. It’s filled with farro, mushrooms, flax, garlic, and Parmesan, and I know that so well because I’ve even tried to recreate it at home. It’s that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And then topped with some white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, lemon-dressed arugula, fresh tomato on a toasted brioche bun. And a tip given to me years ago by a lovely employee was to add pickled beets as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And you’re a vegetarian, right? So did you find your way to that dish?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yup. I had The Pretender.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah? Okay. What did you think?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I felt like I was pretending to eat a burger. Oh, it was so good. I actually really liked it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you have when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had a pulled pork sandwich, which was amazing. It was super sweet, super smoky. I have a huge sweet tooth, but I am glad that I ordered the spicy coleslaw on that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I was gonna ask which one you got. You can do it sweet or spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I got spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and the spicy really balanced it out a lot. And, man, the buns themselves were also delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the Vegan BBQ one, which I also was a little hesitant about because sometimes, you know, with the vegan versions, you never know. But this one was insane. It was so good ’cause it was with jackfruit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Jackfruit is so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> It really has like that meaty tenderness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and the ciabatta bread? That bread, oh, it was amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have to mention the What the Cluck sandwich too, because that also comes on the ciabatta bread. It’s a chicken sandwich. It comes with goat cheese on top, arugula, tomato, and then their housemade Barn buttermilk. And you can opt to get it crispy or grilled. I usually get mine crispy, and I think the creaminess and the tanginess of the goat cheese with the crispiness and the saltiness of the fried chicken, it balances perfectly. And that ciabatta roll, I think, really puts it over the top.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think a ciabatta holds things in better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes, it does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and I didn’t know the buttermilk was housemade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Because I think that came with — Oh, I’m segueing the Mac Attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The Mac Attack is my very favorite. I always have to get a side of the Mac Attack with whatever main I choose. It’s like a cube of fried mac and cheese, perfectly golden and crispy. It has like a nice crust on it so it doesn’t fall apart, and it’s sprinkled with some flaky sea salt. And you get that nice cheese pull in every bite. And it comes with their housemade buttermilk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I didn’t know it was housemade! That actually made it 10 times better, because this Mac Attack is an actual famous thing in the peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Everyone talks about it. And so I’ve been feeling left out. I’m like, “Oh, I’m trying this Mac Attack.” I finally got to go, and it’s so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did it live up to the hype?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It so lived up. Oh, my God. Me and my cousin were like, “Whoa!” Like, it was insane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Another thing that I tried was the Hot Farmer burger, which is like everything that I’m looking for in anything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Which was a balance of some peppery arugula, fried onions, and that was just sweet, spicy, sour. I was hook, line and sinker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I did get an amazing drink. It was called — I’m gonna mispronounce this. Olallieberry Lemonade. Olallieberry Lemonade, right? That was good, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> That’s one of the best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I was like, “What berry is a Olallieberry?” So I looked it up. It’s just a different variation of a blackberry. You guys are like, “Yeah, we knew.” But it didn’t really taste exactly like a blackberry. It almost had this tanginess, and they had full olallieberries at the bottom I could pick out at the end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah, I did the same thing. I was just waiting to finish it so I could have all of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you have any desserts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I did. [Chuckles] Always have to get —\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza’s turning into our dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> She’s the dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have a big sweet tooth, and I always have to get a dessert. So my favorite have got to be their milkshakes. They’re just a classic, simple vanilla milkshake topped with a dollop of whipped cream and, again, served in the nice mason jar. Just the perfect sweet to end the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> That sounds so good. They make their own pastries there too I saw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes. Okay, so I got an apple pie also a few times ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Remember, you were working for that. You know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Right! It was topped with this crumbly topping. I mean, it was a big piece too, enough to share, and really, really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And did you think that it was a good value?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I think so, yeah. I think it was an excellent value. And I feel like the space is so spread out and large outside that you’d never be wrestling with someone to get a seat or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Or if you’re having like a day trip out in Half Moon Bay, it’s a great place to stop on your way in or out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, if you would like to try The Barn, it’s located on Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Jacob’s restaurant is a very rare find indeed. It’s one of only a handful in the Bay Area serving the traditional dishes of an ancient Silk Road empire. Hidden away in San Jose, it’s Kusan Uyghur Cuisine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Yolwas Hashim:\u003c/strong> Just mix it well before you eat it. Kusan Uyghur Cuisine is a modern fusion of the Uyghur foods. And Kusan was this big empire from a thousand years ago. This area covered northwest of China, was based out of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, also the north of India. So the Uyghur people were living in Central Asia, and the place I’m from is called Ürümqi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> How was everything?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Customer:\u003c/strong> Really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> The food, the drinks, just the most easy way to let customers know you and know your culture. Our Uyghur foods have a lot of rich flavors. We have a lot of spice. We make everything fresh daily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> All the meat is halal. I’m making the laghman. We came early to cook all the lamb, beef, soup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> Our hand-pulled noodles, people all can tell that we make noodle fresh every day. After the noodles have cooked, it’s too hot and we have to cool it down and the noodle can taste more tender.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> Yogurt is the most important part of our history and our foods. When I was little, it was my mom making yogurt for me at home. You eat yogurt a lot because you eat a lot of lamb, so you want to balance the oily meats. We really appreciate each customer that came, so every time my customer finishes the food, we offer them free ice cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> I feel like everybody can feel more happy and still can remember us — that’s the most important thing. I’m so proud and so happy I have this restaurant in Bay Area because a lot of people, they never tried our food, and I believe that a lot of people love it. So that makes me more even excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now this place is really a hidden gem. I mean, is that the appeal for you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I think for me, yeah. I think something I just love about this place is it’s just this beautiful enmeshment of more traditional Eastern Chinese cooking styles and spices, as well as things from Western Asia. And something I really go for is the Black Fungus Salad. They toss black fungus, which is this kind of gelatinous large fungus, with chili oil, a little bit of sesame oil, and a little bit of soy sauce. And then there are a few goji berries sprinkled in there that allow for kind of a… almost like raisin-y sweetness that really offsets and cuts through the fat and the saltiness of the soy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you have this dish?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the same thing. I know my reactions are giving it away. I had the same thing. It was so good. I think that was one of my favorite dishes there. I really liked that texture. Your teeth just bite into it really well. Like, it’s really satisfying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it’s like very — like, almost like a gummy worm or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Very toothy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Chili oil gummy worm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you start with?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Okay, so I didn’t get that, but I’m gonna have to try that next time. I’m so interested now. I got the Samsa to start, which were two little golden pockets of dough stuffed with lamb and topped with sesame seeds, black pepper, and salt. It was a really simple dish, but it really allowed the flavor of the lamb, which I know is really popular in this cuisine, to shine through, and I thought it had a perfect ratio of crust to filling. It was really phenomenal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, it is a meat-heavy cuisine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Was it maybe a little more challenging for a vegetarian?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It was challenging, but…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> But doable?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> No, yeah, exactly. Doable. And I had the laghman for the entree. It was one of the only ones that was vegan, but also, I’m very much considering that part of the culture is to eat meat, you know? And so I really liked that they actually even thought of having a vegan or vegetarian option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I also got the laghman because it also has an option to have it with lamb. They also give you the option to have it either spicy or not spicy. I got the spicy, which is this very tomatoey stew that’s kind of on a bed of handmade noodles with potatoes, cabbage, some black fungus. Again, it was very nice to have all of those different vegetables and all of the different textures built into this dish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I also had their lamb chao-mian.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Both:\u003c/strong> Ooh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> And I think the typical chao-mian I’m used to is very like soy sauce forward with a few sauteed vegetables. But this was just a very intense cumin stew almost, and it was really incredible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> The one disappointment I did have was when I ordered grilled naan, and it comes with cumin and chili powder, but when it came out, it was just more warmed up and it didn’t have any of the spices on top of it. But, you know, other than that, it was honestly overall, like, really — I do like how they incorporate those spices into the dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And very interesting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> They really took you on a trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The spices were phenomenal. Another one of the dishes I got was the Big Plate Chicken, which was recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> That is so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And it was just these juicy, tender pieces of chicken and potatoes and veggies. You could tell they had been simmered for a really long time. And then it was on top of these flat, wide noodles in the best sauce. It was almost like a dry heat. The spiciness hit you after, and it did have so many hints of cumin, allspice, cinnamon. And I found myself — I was dragging my noodles back and forth through the sauce in every bite just to soak it up, because it was that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> So did you guys get the yogurt drinks that they have?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> The yogurt is amazing. That tastes homemade as well. I got the Honey Yuzu Peel yogurt drink — so refreshing, especially with the heaviness of the meal itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I had the Honey Lemon one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I just highly recommend if you’re going with a few folks, make sure you all get a different yogurt drink to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, ’cause you all try each others. I tried my sister’s, the passionfruit one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> And they have a milk tea that has butter in it. And if you’re someone who’s really fiending for some rich, rich flavors, there’s a little bit of butter, a little bit of salt. And it’s just, at least for me, an unconventional take on a milk tea, and it was delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And any room for desserts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the Bakali. It was this very dense cake, and it was amazing. It had some spices in it, maybe a little bit of cardamom drizzled with chocolate and caramel on top. It was very good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Sounds delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And my dessert queen over here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes. I got the homemade yogurt dessert topped with sliced almonds and honey. Really, really good because I had never had Uyghur cuisine, so I was so excited to try something new, and it really knocked my socks off. I would go back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, if you would like to try Kusan Uyghur Cuisine, it’s located on 4th Street in San Jose. The average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now reporter Cecilia Phillips heads to Sonoma County for more Bay Area bites you’ve just got to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> We’re here in Sonoma County for the Fork’n Good Food Festival. Where did the name come from?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mercedes Hernandez:\u003c/strong> Well, I probably can’t really say it. Well, you know, food is pretty effing good, so, like, I thought, like, what better name than the Fork’n Good Food Festival, right? Hi! How are you? Can’t really forget it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> What kind of energy and vibe is gonna be here today?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mercedes Hernandez:\u003c/strong> We have so many amazing local restaurants and food trucks here in Sonoma County, and I wanted to create an event that would bring together the food vendors and the community for a day of just food, fun, live music, and just have a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> The name of your business tells part of the story of what you do. So tell me about the name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Legacy BBQ originated from my father. My father was a pitmaster here in Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Thanks, Joe!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> And so I took up the reins and hopefully will pass it on to my family, so continuing my father’s legacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> I wood-fire tri tip. I have my own rub — salt, pepper, and a little bit of garlic. Get it nice and hot, cut it real thin, and serve it right off the grill. That’s the secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is a tri tip sandwich something that you should be eating with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> If you can get this down without a fork, I will give you a sandwich for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> OMG! Ahh! We did it! No forks, baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> So good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> That is fork’n good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Chamoy?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Yes, please.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Chamoy is a sweet, tangy, a little spice kind of paste that you put around your drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> I love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> But you don’t just do drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> No. One of my favorite things is a cucumber roll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So I love that you’ve done cucumber so I can feel a little bit less guilty about the fact that I’m eating a lot of candy right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> It’s a well-balanced meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> A good drip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> Now we’re just waiting till it’s fully cooked, and then we start flipping. My name is Katia, and I am owner of Los Mini Pancakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Enjoy!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Yay!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> In Mexico, they have the mini pancakes. But I’m actually one of the first ones in Sonoma County that started mini pancakes. My menu is just whatever you want. Unlimited syrup, unlimited toppings. That’s what people like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay, so how do you eat these? With your hands?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> No, we got forks. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Chuckles]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> They’re so fluffy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I see a lot of bright colors here. What do you specialize in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> So we made a Hot Cheeto menu. We have Hot Cheeto burgers, Hot Cheeto tamales, crunchwraps, burritos, and corn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> What have you prepared for me?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Got the Hot Cheeto mac and cheese burger. It goes with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, patty, cheese, nacho cheese, mac and cheese. We cover the bun with Hot Cheeto dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh, and there’s Hot Cheetos on the inside, too? [Chuckles] Oh, no! Oh, my God. That was so good. Do you ever say anything, like, right when you eat something, you’re like…?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> It smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh! You heard it here first. This smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it smacks.\u003cem> [Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I want to thank my great guests on this week’s show, Avani Tumuluri, who cherishes the Chili Paneer Roll at ROOH in Palo Alto; Eliza Bulanti, who always makes room for the Mac Attack at The Barn in Half Moon Bay; and Jacob Gorneau, who introduced us to the fragrant flavors of Kusan Uyghur Cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Whoo-hoo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Love it, love it, love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> When you eat something delicious, what do you say when that first little taste hits your lips?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> “Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> I say, “This is really bomb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Keeping it PG, “It’s flipping good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is there certain things that you just have to eat or don’t have to eat with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> I feel like you’re out of a food festival. There’s no judgment. You should be able to eat with your hands. Get messy. We’re here to try everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> But, hey, there’s nothing wrong with this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Ain’t nothing wrong with that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Yeah. \u003cem>[Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 12, airs Thursday, November 28, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On this episode of \u003c/span>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">our guests start their culinary adventure in Palo Alto at \u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong>, a modern Indian restaurant where traditional flavors meet innovative techniques in dishes like paneer chili rolls, jackfruit toast and chicken tikka kulcha. Next, they head to \u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> in Half Moon Bay, a rustic, farm-to-table eatery offering seasonal American comfort food, from juicy burgers with barn-pickled jalapeños to fried mac and cheese, all enjoyed in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The journey continues in San Jose at \u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong>, where diners experience the rich, bold flavors of Central Asian dishes like hand-pulled noodles and big plate chicken. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips visits the \u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> in Rohnert Park, where she samples a diverse array of gourmet eats, from local Sonoma bites to globally inspired street food.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23282\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23282\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1912_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Avani Tumuluri, Jacob Gorneau and Eliza Bulanti from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://roohrestaurants.com/\">\u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong> (Palo Alto)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thebarnhmb.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> (Half Moon Bay)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://kusanuyghur.com/\">\u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://www.thesocomarket.com/forkn-good-food-festival\">\u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> (Rohnert Park)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-800x906.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"906\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-800x906.jpeg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1020x1155.jpeg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-160x181.jpeg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-768x869.jpeg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1357x1536.jpeg 1357w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1809x2048.jpeg 1809w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1912_Wines-1920x2174.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.scaiawine.com/en/product/scaia-garganega-e-chardonnay\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Scaia 2022 Garganega / Chardonnay\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Trevenezie IGT, Italy $15\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking for a deliciously light and bright white that still shows character? This affordable wine is one to buy in batches. Enjoy it as an aperitif or serve it alongside fish in lemon sauce, fried calamari, and fresh salads. The grape variety Chardonnay is familiar, but the native Italian white grape Garganega is known to Italian wine lovers for making sassy Soave and other Veneto whites. Their perfect pairing is what makes the wine so special.\u003c/span>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://benoviawinery.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Benovia 2019 “Blanc de Blancs” Sparkling Wine\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cem>Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California $60\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nAs one of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers, Benovia is a Sonoma star. Its richly styled sparkling white has expressive aromas of lemon cream pie, peach blossom, and toasted nuts. It’s a wine to start the meal and continue enjoying throughout, whether you’re serving a hearty brunch casserole or a dinner of veal scallopini or pork loin. Elegance in your glass — all with the pop of a cork.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.estournel.com/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>G d’Estournel 2020\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Médoc, Bordeaux, France $39\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nOne of France’s heralded Bordeaux reds is Cos d’Estournel. Opulent and ageworthy, it’s a coveted collector wine. An alluring alternative that shares the same heritage without the same price tag is G d’Estournel. The appealing front label tells a story all its own. According to their website, “G d’Estournel evokes the wonderment of an explorer returned home from the Far East, his soul replete with luminous memories of majestic Indian elephants, shimmering Burmese gold, the finest of Nepalese silks, the warm glow of Vietnamese lanterns.” Each vintage is a slightly different blend of red Bordeaux grapes, but the stylish 2020 is Merlot dominant with a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Plush and subtly smooth, it is a red to relish.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Contemporary Indian plates in Palo Alto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Did it live up to the hype?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It so lived up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Burgers al fresco in Half Moon Bay\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And Central Asian cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And it really knocked my socks off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> You heard it here first. This smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it smacks. \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today are three very studious guests—dental student Avani Tumuluri, psychology and brain science student Eliza Bulanti, and scorpion researcher grad student Jacob Gorneau.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Thanks for having me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Avani’s restaurant offers a tempting fusion of Indian and California cuisine. Add in Ayurveda-inspired cocktails, vibrant decor, and it’s the perfect place for a family dinner or a first date. Located in downtown Palo Alto, it’s ROOH.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Rooh means “soul” in Persian, and in India also.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> I think ROOH is passion. It’s passion for food, it’s passion for hospitality, it’s passion for putting a twist on traditional food that goes back hundreds of years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Alright? Perfect. I grew up in Mumbai. I’m Gujarati. Our food culture was something which had sweet, sour, and spicy—all umami flavors together. At ROOH, we have covered all the regions of India and many lost recipes which people have forgotten to cook.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> We always like to think of nostalgic, but we wrapped it in this beautiful presentation with these vibrant colors and just a tiny bit of a modern twist to all these beautiful traditional dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Oh! Yo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> Also the street food which people used to enjoy during their childhood. That first taste takes them to their childhood memories of family or the place where I was born.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> We all know that Indian cuisine is a lot of vegetarian items, but I think we’ve turned it into such a fun and exciting way of eating vegetarian food that never gets old. It’s always amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Apurva Panchal:\u003c/strong> In Sanskrit, we always say Atithi Devo Bhava. That means the guests should be treated like God. That’s how we follow it as part of our hospitality culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Abi Capristo:\u003c/strong> It’s so great when people walk in, they’re like, “This is my first time here and I have to be back.” You know, it’s exciting to see people be excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Avani. I mean, this place is really a creative take, right, on Indian street food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah. I think that I love that it’s a progressive Indian cuisine, but it kind of has a mix of the inspiration of California culture with the Indian culture. I love the decor. I love the atmosphere. You walk in, and it’s just like this shroud of reds and these antique decorations and mirrors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It puts you in the mood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it really puts you in the mood. It really does. I’m ready to eat. I’m ready to have fun.\u003cbr>\n\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> You’re ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> And I absolutely always go for the Paneer Chili Roll. It looks like a pinwheel, which is really cool because I feel like it marries in the American culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, like a lunch snack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it’s like a classic Lunchable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think it’s a snackable or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah! Snackable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I hear Eliza going, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Did you have this as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I did, and it was phenomenal. I thought that the flavors and the textures, I loved how they wrapped them all up, because the paneer wasn’t super overwhelming, and the crispiness of the kataifi, too, with kind of the smoothness of the paneer was perfect. And then what really put it over the top for me was the chili garlic chutney that it came with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The flavor of that was phenomenal and just paired with the textures, it was a work of art, like every other dish I had here too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had the Assorted Papad, which came with three different chutneys and a bunch of different crispy crackers that were variously seasoned. My favorite one was the chili peanut one. I love peanut flavor, but in particular this peanut was so rich and decadent it almost had like a chocolatey richness to it, which was really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I loved this menu and that it really emphasized small plates. So my family and I got a lot of them to share, which as an adventurous eater, was so fun for me to get to try so many different things. I think my favorite had to be the Chicken Tikka Kulcha. It was like this warm, round flatbread stuffed with this really flavorful shredded chicken. And then it had this beautiful dollop of za’atar butter and pickled onions on top, and it came out warm so that the butter kind of melted in and the flavors just melded perfectly. It was glorious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So did you get the most of it and then your parents just a little bit?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Exactly. Everyone took a little bite, and I was like, “This one is for me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And then I also—probably the most beautiful dish I got was the Potato Tikki Chaat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> It was like a cube of really thinly sliced potatoes, and it sat atop this yogurt sauce that was almost like a whipped cream consistency, drizzled with a tamarind sauce and some raspberry seeds. The flavors and the textures were incredible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I really like the Jackfruit Toast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I love jackfruit. I feel like if you’re able to season it right, it can be very meaty, and the jackfruit itself is very nicely spiced. And then with that buttery bread on the bottom, oh my gosh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s a nice combination.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had a Duck Seekh Kebab. I always like duck. I know sometimes people feel like it’s a little on the fatty side of things, but it was just this incredible flavor bomb, the meat itself, and there was some mixed berry chutney on top as well. And so it was really this beautiful balance between tang and spice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> That sounds amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Definitely my favorite dish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did they order right? So far?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> They ordered right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Okay, good. Okay, good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> My mouth is watering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> If you guys ever go again, you should definitely order the Malai Broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Ooh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Now, I know it sounds like, “Why would I pay for a broccoli?” But it’s this giant piece, and it’s placed on this creamy daal, which is like lentil-based sauce, and it’s very nicely spiced.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Get the broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have to try that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I also had a delicious mocktail that went perfectly with the dishes I got. It was the Pink Guava mocktail, and it had these hints of masala spices in it, which I think cut the sweetness of the guava perfectly and really paired nicely with this meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I’m so excited, ’cause I had the same one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> No way! Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> No way! It was so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I tried the Mulberry Sour, which was really refreshing and bright to kind of complement some of those warmer spices. And the thing that really blew my socks off was the Patna Fizz, which is a lychee-flavored cocktail that also has, I believe, some mushroom essence in it. Beautifully purple. Like, it was really amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Wow!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And dessert?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Oh, of course. Of course I had dessert. I always go for the kulfi. If you guys don’t know what it is, it’s sort of an Indian ice cream, and the flavors that they have are like pistachio or saffron, flavors that you wouldn’t really get at your normal supermarket, and it’s just always decorated so beautifully.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> My takeaway was this is amazing. This is a great special-occasion venue. And I wouldn’t necessarily go there on a first date, but I would definitely take someone I really love there and, you know, show my love through these dishes. Like, it’s really a love letter to food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. If you would like to try ROOH, it’s located on University Avenue in Palo Alto, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $60.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza is a big-time burger lover, and she says the absolute best can be found at her casual coastal eatery. Located in Half Moon Bay, it’s The Barn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> The Barn is casual.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man #2:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Can I steal one of your fries for the dog?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> It’s communal, above all.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> It’s put itself on the map as a little oasis and really just part of our ethos, which is…happy people make good food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s so delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> Matter of fact, I find that the best food is generally the simplest. We make everything that we possibly can, and our ingredients come from local purveyors as much as possible. We make the best burger on the coast. I know that could be an arguable statement, but I’m happy to take on anyone else that wants to challenge it. And it’s not because of some secret ingredient. We use our homemade American cheese, sauces, high-quality bun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I like the beef.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> For sure, one of the highlights for me and a lot of customers is the veggie burger. We cook down a lot of ingredients, primarily mushrooms and farro for building texture. And I’m not a vegetarian, so I honestly have that with a little bacon on top, and it’s fantastic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Can we talk about the milkshakes? Because there’s something about the milkshakes which you don’t find anywhere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> It’s Marianne’s Ice Cream from Santa Cruz, and a splash or two of milk just to be able to blend it together. And then we make our own ingredients to create the flavor, so if it’s chocolate, we’ll make separate chocolate ganache that then gets put into the ice cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Of course, homemade whipped cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> Well, yeah. You need to have that a little bit more fun on top.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> Why not? I mean, for the person who has bacon on a veggie burger…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> True.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Matt Haugen:\u003c/strong> …whipped cream on a milkshake is par for the course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Patrick Hanna:\u003c/strong> So Half Moon Bay, we are on the coast. Restaurant is about a five-minute walk from the sand. Dutch word, it’s called Gezellig. It means “warm,” “comfortable,” “family,” and that’s what this place means to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza, this spot feels like, you know, you’ve gone to the beach…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …you’ve hung out those gorgeous beaches in Half Moon Bay, and now you need something to eat, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes. 100%. That’s one of my favorite parts about this restaurant is you can really do it all here, whether that’s after a hike by the beach or just hanging out for the day. You can kind of get a sense of that local vibe that represents the quaint town of Half Moon Bay, I think, really well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. What is your favorite?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes. Okay. What’s kept me coming back for years? It’s The Pretender. So although I am a beef hamburger-loving person, The Pretender, it is my must-have here. It’s kind of a hearty patty. It’s filled with farro, mushrooms, flax, garlic, and Parmesan, and I know that so well because I’ve even tried to recreate it at home. It’s that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And then topped with some white cheddar cheese, caramelized onions, lemon-dressed arugula, fresh tomato on a toasted brioche bun. And a tip given to me years ago by a lovely employee was to add pickled beets as well.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And you’re a vegetarian, right? So did you find your way to that dish?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yup. I had The Pretender.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah? Okay. What did you think?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I felt like I was pretending to eat a burger. Oh, it was so good. I actually really liked it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you have when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I had a pulled pork sandwich, which was amazing. It was super sweet, super smoky. I have a huge sweet tooth, but I am glad that I ordered the spicy coleslaw on that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I was gonna ask which one you got. You can do it sweet or spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I got spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and the spicy really balanced it out a lot. And, man, the buns themselves were also delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the Vegan BBQ one, which I also was a little hesitant about because sometimes, you know, with the vegan versions, you never know. But this one was insane. It was so good ’cause it was with jackfruit.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Jackfruit is so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> It really has like that meaty tenderness.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and the ciabatta bread? That bread, oh, it was amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have to mention the What the Cluck sandwich too, because that also comes on the ciabatta bread. It’s a chicken sandwich. It comes with goat cheese on top, arugula, tomato, and then their housemade Barn buttermilk. And you can opt to get it crispy or grilled. I usually get mine crispy, and I think the creaminess and the tanginess of the goat cheese with the crispiness and the saltiness of the fried chicken, it balances perfectly. And that ciabatta roll, I think, really puts it over the top.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I think a ciabatta holds things in better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes, it does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The bread makes the sandwich.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, and I didn’t know the buttermilk was housemade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Because I think that came with — Oh, I’m segueing the Mac Attack.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The Mac Attack is my very favorite. I always have to get a side of the Mac Attack with whatever main I choose. It’s like a cube of fried mac and cheese, perfectly golden and crispy. It has like a nice crust on it so it doesn’t fall apart, and it’s sprinkled with some flaky sea salt. And you get that nice cheese pull in every bite. And it comes with their housemade buttermilk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I didn’t know it was housemade! That actually made it 10 times better, because this Mac Attack is an actual famous thing in the peninsula.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Everyone talks about it. And so I’ve been feeling left out. I’m like, “Oh, I’m trying this Mac Attack.” I finally got to go, and it’s so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did it live up to the hype?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It so lived up. Oh, my God. Me and my cousin were like, “Whoa!” Like, it was insane.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Another thing that I tried was the Hot Farmer burger, which is like everything that I’m looking for in anything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Which was a balance of some peppery arugula, fried onions, and that was just sweet, spicy, sour. I was hook, line and sinker.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I did get an amazing drink. It was called — I’m gonna mispronounce this. Olallieberry Lemonade. Olallieberry Lemonade, right? That was good, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> That’s one of the best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I was like, “What berry is a Olallieberry?” So I looked it up. It’s just a different variation of a blackberry. You guys are like, “Yeah, we knew.” But it didn’t really taste exactly like a blackberry. It almost had this tanginess, and they had full olallieberries at the bottom I could pick out at the end.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah, I did the same thing. I was just waiting to finish it so I could have all of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you have any desserts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I did. [Chuckles] Always have to get —\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Eliza’s turning into our dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> She’s the dessert.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> I have a big sweet tooth, and I always have to get a dessert. So my favorite have got to be their milkshakes. They’re just a classic, simple vanilla milkshake topped with a dollop of whipped cream and, again, served in the nice mason jar. Just the perfect sweet to end the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> That sounds so good. They make their own pastries there too I saw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes. Okay, so I got an apple pie also a few times ago.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Remember, you were working for that. You know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Right! It was topped with this crumbly topping. I mean, it was a big piece too, enough to share, and really, really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And did you think that it was a good value?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I think so, yeah. I think it was an excellent value. And I feel like the space is so spread out and large outside that you’d never be wrestling with someone to get a seat or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Or if you’re having like a day trip out in Half Moon Bay, it’s a great place to stop on your way in or out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, if you would like to try The Barn, it’s located on Highway 1 in Half Moon Bay, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Jacob’s restaurant is a very rare find indeed. It’s one of only a handful in the Bay Area serving the traditional dishes of an ancient Silk Road empire. Hidden away in San Jose, it’s Kusan Uyghur Cuisine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Yolwas Hashim:\u003c/strong> Just mix it well before you eat it. Kusan Uyghur Cuisine is a modern fusion of the Uyghur foods. And Kusan was this big empire from a thousand years ago. This area covered northwest of China, was based out of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, also the north of India. So the Uyghur people were living in Central Asia, and the place I’m from is called Ürümqi.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> How was everything?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Customer:\u003c/strong> Really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> The food, the drinks, just the most easy way to let customers know you and know your culture. Our Uyghur foods have a lot of rich flavors. We have a lot of spice. We make everything fresh daily.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> All the meat is halal. I’m making the laghman. We came early to cook all the lamb, beef, soup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> Our hand-pulled noodles, people all can tell that we make noodle fresh every day. After the noodles have cooked, it’s too hot and we have to cool it down and the noodle can taste more tender.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> Yogurt is the most important part of our history and our foods. When I was little, it was my mom making yogurt for me at home. You eat yogurt a lot because you eat a lot of lamb, so you want to balance the oily meats. We really appreciate each customer that came, so every time my customer finishes the food, we offer them free ice cream.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Hashim:\u003c/strong> I feel like everybody can feel more happy and still can remember us — that’s the most important thing. I’m so proud and so happy I have this restaurant in Bay Area because a lot of people, they never tried our food, and I believe that a lot of people love it. So that makes me more even excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now this place is really a hidden gem. I mean, is that the appeal for you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I think for me, yeah. I think something I just love about this place is it’s just this beautiful enmeshment of more traditional Eastern Chinese cooking styles and spices, as well as things from Western Asia. And something I really go for is the Black Fungus Salad. They toss black fungus, which is this kind of gelatinous large fungus, with chili oil, a little bit of sesame oil, and a little bit of soy sauce. And then there are a few goji berries sprinkled in there that allow for kind of a… almost like raisin-y sweetness that really offsets and cuts through the fat and the saltiness of the soy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you have this dish?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the same thing. I know my reactions are giving it away. I had the same thing. It was so good. I think that was one of my favorite dishes there. I really liked that texture. Your teeth just bite into it really well. Like, it’s really satisfying.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it’s like very — like, almost like a gummy worm or something.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Very toothy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Chili oil gummy worm.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> What did you start with?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Okay, so I didn’t get that, but I’m gonna have to try that next time. I’m so interested now. I got the Samsa to start, which were two little golden pockets of dough stuffed with lamb and topped with sesame seeds, black pepper, and salt. It was a really simple dish, but it really allowed the flavor of the lamb, which I know is really popular in this cuisine, to shine through, and I thought it had a perfect ratio of crust to filling. It was really phenomenal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, it is a meat-heavy cuisine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Was it maybe a little more challenging for a vegetarian?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> It was challenging, but…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> But doable?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> No, yeah, exactly. Doable. And I had the laghman for the entree. It was one of the only ones that was vegan, but also, I’m very much considering that part of the culture is to eat meat, you know? And so I really liked that they actually even thought of having a vegan or vegetarian option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I also got the laghman because it also has an option to have it with lamb. They also give you the option to have it either spicy or not spicy. I got the spicy, which is this very tomatoey stew that’s kind of on a bed of handmade noodles with potatoes, cabbage, some black fungus. Again, it was very nice to have all of those different vegetables and all of the different textures built into this dish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I also had their lamb chao-mian.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Both:\u003c/strong> Ooh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> And I think the typical chao-mian I’m used to is very like soy sauce forward with a few sauteed vegetables. But this was just a very intense cumin stew almost, and it was really incredible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> The one disappointment I did have was when I ordered grilled naan, and it comes with cumin and chili powder, but when it came out, it was just more warmed up and it didn’t have any of the spices on top of it. But, you know, other than that, it was honestly overall, like, really — I do like how they incorporate those spices into the dishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And very interesting.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> They really took you on a trip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> The spices were phenomenal. Another one of the dishes I got was the Big Plate Chicken, which was recommended.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> That is so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> And it was just these juicy, tender pieces of chicken and potatoes and veggies. You could tell they had been simmered for a really long time. And then it was on top of these flat, wide noodles in the best sauce. It was almost like a dry heat. The spiciness hit you after, and it did have so many hints of cumin, allspice, cinnamon. And I found myself — I was dragging my noodles back and forth through the sauce in every bite just to soak it up, because it was that good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> So did you guys get the yogurt drinks that they have?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> The yogurt is amazing. That tastes homemade as well. I got the Honey Yuzu Peel yogurt drink — so refreshing, especially with the heaviness of the meal itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I had the Honey Lemon one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yes!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> I just highly recommend if you’re going with a few folks, make sure you all get a different yogurt drink to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Yeah, ’cause you all try each others. I tried my sister’s, the passionfruit one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jacob Gorneau:\u003c/strong> And they have a milk tea that has butter in it. And if you’re someone who’s really fiending for some rich, rich flavors, there’s a little bit of butter, a little bit of salt. And it’s just, at least for me, an unconventional take on a milk tea, and it was delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And any room for desserts?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> I had the Bakali. It was this very dense cake, and it was amazing. It had some spices in it, maybe a little bit of cardamom drizzled with chocolate and caramel on top. It was very good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Sounds delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And my dessert queen over here?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Oh, yes. I got the homemade yogurt dessert topped with sliced almonds and honey. Really, really good because I had never had Uyghur cuisine, so I was so excited to try something new, and it really knocked my socks off. I would go back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Well, if you would like to try Kusan Uyghur Cuisine, it’s located on 4th Street in San Jose. The average tab per person without drinks is around $30.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now reporter Cecilia Phillips heads to Sonoma County for more Bay Area bites you’ve just got to try.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> We’re here in Sonoma County for the Fork’n Good Food Festival. Where did the name come from?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mercedes Hernandez:\u003c/strong> Well, I probably can’t really say it. Well, you know, food is pretty effing good, so, like, I thought, like, what better name than the Fork’n Good Food Festival, right? Hi! How are you? Can’t really forget it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> What kind of energy and vibe is gonna be here today?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mercedes Hernandez:\u003c/strong> We have so many amazing local restaurants and food trucks here in Sonoma County, and I wanted to create an event that would bring together the food vendors and the community for a day of just food, fun, live music, and just have a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> The name of your business tells part of the story of what you do. So tell me about the name.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Legacy BBQ originated from my father. My father was a pitmaster here in Sonoma County.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Thanks, Joe!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> And so I took up the reins and hopefully will pass it on to my family, so continuing my father’s legacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> I wood-fire tri tip. I have my own rub — salt, pepper, and a little bit of garlic. Get it nice and hot, cut it real thin, and serve it right off the grill. That’s the secret.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is a tri tip sandwich something that you should be eating with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> If you can get this down without a fork, I will give you a sandwich for free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> OMG! Ahh! We did it! No forks, baby.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> So good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> That is fork’n good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Chamoy?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Yes, please.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Chamoy is a sweet, tangy, a little spice kind of paste that you put around your drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> I love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> But you don’t just do drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> No. One of my favorite things is a cucumber roll.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So I love that you’ve done cucumber so I can feel a little bit less guilty about the fact that I’m eating a lot of candy right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> It’s a well-balanced meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> A good drip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> Right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> Now we’re just waiting till it’s fully cooked, and then we start flipping. My name is Katia, and I am owner of Los Mini Pancakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Enjoy!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Yay!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> In Mexico, they have the mini pancakes. But I’m actually one of the first ones in Sonoma County that started mini pancakes. My menu is just whatever you want. Unlimited syrup, unlimited toppings. That’s what people like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay, so how do you eat these? With your hands?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> No, we got forks. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Chuckles]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> They’re so fluffy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I see a lot of bright colors here. What do you specialize in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> So we made a Hot Cheeto menu. We have Hot Cheeto burgers, Hot Cheeto tamales, crunchwraps, burritos, and corn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> What have you prepared for me?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Got the Hot Cheeto mac and cheese burger. It goes with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, patty, cheese, nacho cheese, mac and cheese. We cover the bun with Hot Cheeto dust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh, and there’s Hot Cheetos on the inside, too? [Chuckles] Oh, no! Oh, my God. That was so good. Do you ever say anything, like, right when you eat something, you’re like…?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> It smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh! You heard it here first. This smacks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Humberto Segura:\u003c/strong> Yeah, it smacks.\u003cem> [Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I want to thank my great guests on this week’s show, Avani Tumuluri, who cherishes the Chili Paneer Roll at ROOH in Palo Alto; Eliza Bulanti, who always makes room for the Mac Attack at The Barn in Half Moon Bay; and Jacob Gorneau, who introduced us to the fragrant flavors of Kusan Uyghur Cuisine in San Jose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Avani Tumuluri:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Eliza Bulanti:\u003c/strong> Whoo-hoo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Love it, love it, love it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> When you eat something delicious, what do you say when that first little taste hits your lips?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> “Ain’t nothing wrong with that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Katia Reyes:\u003c/strong> I say, “This is really bomb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Keeping it PG, “It’s flipping good.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is there certain things that you just have to eat or don’t have to eat with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jeannette Ambriz-Diaz:\u003c/strong> I feel like you’re out of a food festival. There’s no judgment. You should be able to eat with your hands. Get messy. We’re here to try everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> But, hey, there’s nothing wrong with this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Joseph Edwards:\u003c/strong> Ain’t nothing wrong with that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Yeah. \u003cem>[Laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 11, airs Thursday, November 21, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, our journey begins in San Jose at \u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong>, a beloved local institution since 1968, offering thin-crust, crispy-edged pies loaded with fresh toppings. Next, guests visit \u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> in El Sobrante, a charming spot for comforting breakfast and lunch classics, from chicken fried steak to sweet cream pancakes. Then, it’s off to the Marshall’s scenic coast and \u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong>, where diners enjoy fresh, sustainably sourced seafood with breathtaking views of Tomales Bay. Lastly, reporter Cecilia Phillips wraps up the episode with a tour of \u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong>, where she dives into the world of oysters, exploring how these bivalves go from ocean to table.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23281\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Charles Tsang, Laurel Valaris and Luis Ferguson from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://cicerospizza.com/\">\u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://cafe-soleil.com/the-cafe\">\u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> (El Sobrante)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://tonysseafoodrestaurant.com/\">\u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hogislandoysters.com/hog-hq/farm-tours/\">\u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-800x974.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"974\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-800x974.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1020x1242.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-160x195.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-768x935.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1261x1536.jpg 1261w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1682x2048.jpg 1682w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1920x2338.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://us.bolledrinks.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Bolle Rosé, Twice Fermented Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>$30\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>With the surge of interest in nonalcoholic beverages, nonalcoholic beer leads the way with plenty that taste similar to their alcoholic counterparts. That’s followed closely by faux spirits used to make virgin versions of cocktails. I find nonalcoholic wine, however, lags behind both these categories in terms of options that taste like wine with alcohol. That is, until I sampled the new sparklers from Bolle. A Europe-based company founded by Italian Roberto Vanin, this pink fizz looks stylishly elegant and tastes delicious — making you want another glass, or three. Enticingly delicate red berry fruit aromas lead the way with this crisp, flavorful bubbly (clocking in at a mere 15 calories per serving). It’s an ideal option for savvy sippers of all sorts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"http://thacherwinery.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Thacher 2022 Grenache, Homestead Hill Vineyard\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>\u003cspan class=\"contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_1291_1337\" role=\"button\">Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, California\u003c/span> $65\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003c/b>One of my favorite red grapes is Grenache. It’s a unique variety responsible for the likes of hearty French Rhône reds and spicy Spanish stunners. In Paso Robles, California, however, it has found its American home. One Grenache that’s a shining star is a small-production version from Thacher Winery. This family-owned spot specializes in handcrafted, terroir-driven wines. Their Homestead Hill Vineyard Grenache is hand-harvested, hand-sorted, gently basket pressed, then aged in concrete tulips, and finally bottled unfiltered and unfined. Exploding with medium-bodied freshness and complexity, it showcases wild strawberry and maraschino cherry succulence, followed by a spicy kick and vibrant yet plush texture. A perfect partner for braised meats or fiery veggie chili.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://montelena.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Chateau Montelena 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $85\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003c/b>When it comes to California classics, look no further than Chateau Montelena. I adore this winery, its story, its wines and its people. The historic winery, begun by Alfred Tubbs in the 1880s, is one of Napa Valley’s most beautiful properties to visit, with gorgeous grounds and a grand chateau. Nearly 100 years after its founding, it became even more famous when their 1973 Chardonnay bested French versions in the benchmark “Judgement of Paris” wine competition of 1976. They are, however, known for their Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings — and for good reason. The 2021 Cabernet is structured and age-worthy, but also ready to drink now with a few hours of decanting and alongside a sumptuous grilled steak. Sporting dark berry fruit notes layered with hints of toasty oak spiciness and a lush finish, this collectible wine is yet another reason to love Montelena.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> An old-school pizzeria in San Jose…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was just such a heartwarming experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …a cozy brunch spot in El Sobrante…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> This dish defeated me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …and fresh seafood by the Bay in Marshall…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It’s definitely ingrained in my soul.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Never seen anything like this before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Were you slurping?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We slurped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughs] \u003c/em>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check ’em out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today are product marketing executive Charles Tsang, FDA inspector Luis Ferguson, and Deputy Director with the City of Oakland Laurel Valaris. Welcome, everyone. How are you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Doing great.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Great. Thanks for having us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. Charles is throwing it all the way back to 1968 with his nostalgic pick, a pizzeria that’s been serving up their signature crispy crust pies for more than five decades. Tucked away in West San Jose, it’s Cicero’s Pizza.\u003cem> [music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> When someone new comes into Cicero’s Pizza, I think the first vibe they’re gonna get is this is an old-fashioned pizzeria.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> Rhiannon, your pizza is ready. Rhiannon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> We’re not trying to be fancy, but we excel at what we do. So, Cicero’s Pizza’s recipe originally started in Niagara Falls, New York. There was a fellow named Pee-Wee—it was his mother’s recipe from Sicily. And eventually, when he moved from Niagara Falls to Cupertino, Nunzio Cicero bought one of the pizzerias. So he ran the place from 1968 to 2001. I worked for him going through college, and then carried on the legacy for the last 20 years at this location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> You guys gonna eat here or take out? Our tagline is “The Pizza with the Secret.” Everyone asks me, “So, Rik, what’s the secret?” And as I tell them, “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Scraping sound]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> Unlike any other place in the Bay Area that I know of, Cicero’s Pizza cooks the pizzas in a pan with oil, so it kind of fries the bottom, makes a nice, crispy crust, which you don’t find very often. A lot of people that start pizzerias are able to just get off-the-shelf—cans of tomato sauce. That’s not what we do at all. We make our own spice mixture. It has some sweetness to it, and it’s a very unique and great taste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> The key is getting the cheese on. My favorite pizza is probably just a plain old cheese pizza. I like cheese. That’s how you can really tell whether a pizza is any good or not. Toppings can vary. The pizza itself—cheese—you’re always gonna know. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> It is a family business, very family-focused. We have photos on the wall of many of our customers. For example, we have Steve Wozniak, whose family has been coming here long before he started Apple Computer. But we have a lot of what we call Cicero’s babies. And they’re either customers who met here or their first date was here—they end up getting married and having children. We have a number of employees who’ve met here and have had children, so we got a lot of little Cicero’s babies out there. We have great history, and I’m glad about that. But the real reason people come here is ’cause they know they’re gonna get a great pizza—every single time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All: \u003c/strong>♪ Happy birthday to you ♪\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Charles, how old were you when you had your first bite of Cicero’s Pizza?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> I was 16 years old. My friends and I, we all grew up in Cupertino, so it was like a local spot for us. After my first visit, I was hooked, and I’ve been going ever since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And do you have a pie that you just love?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> So, I’m a big eater. There’s multiple pies—I usually get a couple for myself, and my wife will share a little bit of it. So I’m a big fan of the Belly Buster pizza. It comes with pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, a ton of different vegetables, mushrooms, peppers. It usually comes with onions, but I’m not an onion guy, so I forgo that. It’s a delicious pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It was actually one of my favorite pizzas that we had there. And the Italian sausage isn’t chunks of Italian sausage—it’s more like chopped-up Italian sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s like a fine crumble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Well, it was one of the four pies, actually, that we had, so…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> We’ll be here a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Yeah. \u003cem>[Chuckles]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We ate a lot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> So, we went with four people. So we each kind of like got our own thing. We also had the Baker’s Pride, which was like your typical supreme pizza—your vegetables, and I believe it had a different type of sausage than was on the Belly Buster, which was cool because we got to try both of the sausages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, veggies—you had, like, mushrooms, bell pepper, onions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly. Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Blue-cheese salad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And it was a really classic pizza place. Like, there’s no appetizers except for two massive salads—one house, one Caesar—and we tried both, which was perfect because they’re like $5…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> …for this big, heaping plate of salad, which justified the pizza for us. And it’s exactly what you would imagine your local pizza place’s salad to look like—like, big hunks of lettuce, one or two vegetables, and those little square croutons from your childhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> But it was really yummy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Nice. My other favorite pizza that I get there is the All Meat Combo. It’s delicious. It’s hearty. It’s got a ton of different meats on it—pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, ham. But they don’t overdo it with the composition of meat. It’s really, really well-balanced. It’s super, super savory, super delicious. And the thing that really elevates the pizza overall—and this goes for all the pizzas, not just the meat lover’s pizza—is the crispy crust. It is like one of a kind. I’ve never had a thin-crust pizza quite like that before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I was even, like, trying to think of, like, New York-style pizza. I mean, I know it’s like a New York-style pizza spot, but the crust is completely different than any New York-style pizza that I’ve had before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Right. It’s not foldable, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Unh-unh. No, it’s—and it’s good, too. I actually really enjoyed the crust. I usually leave the crust behind, but this one, I ate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> This one you ate the crust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I ate the crust. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> So, we took a page out of your book. We had five small pizzas. So, we all got to try a little, and we had Hawaiian, which was really good, like unexpectedly a favorite of ours. Really thin ham.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And the owner actually talked to us a little bit about the sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> That’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And they make it all there, and they always have. She told us all of the ingredients except for one, which is a secret. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> And the sauce was really, really good, really tangy, and on top of that cracker crust, it made for a really great pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, we also got the Spicy Vegetarian, which surprisingly enough, I actually liked more of any of the pizza that we had there. The fresh tomatoes that were on there, the jalapeños that were roasted, the onions. It just all complemented themselves. And then my sister-in-law actually got a pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. She custom-made it. And even though she got the medium of that one, but we got the smalls of the other three, we literally almost finished everything. That’s really what made it—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> When they said spicy on that spicy vegetarian, they meant it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s really spicy. I even took off the jalapeños, just to kind of get the essence of it. And it was really spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, be aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Be aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah? Do you drink anything there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> We got a pitcher of Modelos, which I feel like goes hand in hand with pizza. Yeah, the beer, they got a nice local beer selection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Yeah. It felt like a really nostalgic place. Like, we all have our hometown pizza place, and this felt like the kind of place that if you were from that area of San Jose, you would, like, go off to college and come back and have to have Cicero’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It’d be on your list, for sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Totally. So, it felt like it was a special place for a lot of families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> You’ve described me, like, right there. Like, to this day, every birthday, my wife will be like, “What do you want for your birthday?” I’m like, “Can we just go to Cicero’s?” That’s all I want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> That was the vibe, for sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> That’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It is. And the service was exceptional. I mean, it was fast service, but even above that, the owners were so happy to see me and my young family there. I actually brought my five-day-old to the restaurant along with my two toddlers. And some folks may, like, shy away from that much kid activity in a busy spot. But the owner actually was so pumped that my baby—it was their first restaurant experience at Cicero’s—that she brought out a little red onesie that said Cicero’s Pizza and two T-shirts for my two little boys. And it was just overall such a heartwarming experience for us that I wouldn’t normally drive down to San Jose just for pizza, but I totally would, just based on that experience alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, well, if you would like to try Cicero’s Pizza, it’s located on Bollinger Road in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> As a mom to three little ones, Laurel is a huge fan of classic diners where the menu, service, and vibe is all-around family friendly. Luckily, her neighborhood hangout checks all those boxes. Located in El Sobrante, it’s Cafe Soleil. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Server:\u003c/strong> Chicken fried steak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Cafe Soleil means to me sun, light, love, community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> A lot of people that walk in the door are kind of amazed, because it looks like a little hidden place. And they come in, and it’s such a nice big open spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> There’s just something about starting someone’s day with a good breakfast. Cafe Soleil has been here since 1997. At 18, I had the opportunity to open my own small café. I was the cook, the waitress, the dishwasher, the prepper, the busser, and Todd was one of my customers. He used to order French toast, bacon, and over-medium eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I was always going around and trying to find the best breakfasts everywhere I could go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> And he was like, “I’ve always wanted a little café.” And I’m like, “Great, I’m going to teach you to cook.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> We serve steaks, burgers and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> Salads, homemade soups, and we even have a vegan menu. I love the vegan avocado toast—fresh-shaved radish, arugula, fresh jalapeños, fresh cherry tomatoes. It’s just garden fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> Our portion sizes are actually very large. Our customers, when they leave here are very satisfied.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I hope they just feel full and happy and content and energized, but not so much where they’re like, “I need to go sleep.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Server:\u003c/strong> Alright, you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I would say 99% of every employee that we hired in 1998 still works for us, to this day. We all grew up together, and we all built this business. They are so intertwined with these customers. It’s amazing. It’s family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Laurel, obviously you need a family-friendly spot, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And this one is your favorite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It is my favorite. Not only is it super kid-friendly, but also the food is really, really good. I feel like it’s hard to find a neighborhood diner where everything is consistent, and for me, Cafe Soleil is that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, what do you get when you go in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> One of the things I really like to share with my family is the Workers Special. It’s biscuits and gravy with a little bit of spice to it. It has kind of a smoky taste, and then you can get a meat side or egg side, anything of your choosing—over-easy, sausage, bacon. And so, that’s something that we all usually share. And then this time around, my husband got the Chicken Fried Steak. And it was a very thin-sliced piece of steak, really crispy. And the eggs over-easy serving as, like, an additional sauce was a real win. So, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I actually got the same thing, and I didn’t even have to cut it with a knife, actually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Oh, really? Cut it with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Cut it with my fork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Oh, that’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah. Super juicy, super tender. It wasn’t dry at all. Sometimes you go to places with chicken fried steak, and it might be a little dry. Definitely not the case here. My wife, she was blown away by this restaurant. She actually literally said it was the best breakfast place that she’s been to in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Wow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> And she is kind of like a breakfast potato connoisseur. And she loved the home fries. They had this nice, thin, crispy layer, perfectly seasoned. She loved it. The Workers Special, like you said, was great. And I know I mentioned earlier, I’m a big eater. No, this dish defeated me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> I was defeated after this dish. But it was great, and the biscuits were very, very fluffy. It was amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We also got a side with the pancakes. Sweet Cream Pancakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, Sweet Cream Pancakes. Yeah, they were super good, actually. That was, like, one of the highlights for my breakfast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Didn’t it taste just like the sweet cream you would put in your coffee?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly. And, like, even with syrup over the pancakes, the Sweet Cream Pancake itself shined through no matter how much syrup you drenched on it or dipped onto it, which was really nice, was refreshing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Were they big pancakes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> They were plate-sized. We only actually got one because of everything that we got. I mean, I wish I would have gotten more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, this is also a lunch spot, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> So, my standard order is usually the Cobb Salad. I wouldn’t normally send someone to a restaurant specifically for a salad, but this is, like, a big, epic meal salad. But then it has really hearty elements like chicken. It has bacon, it has boiled egg, it has a really beautiful house-made blue cheese, and together it makes for at least two meals for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We also had the Green Chili & Jack Burger, which is a really beautiful charbroiled burger, and it has this thick piece of Jack cheese on it with grilled Ortega chili. And that Ortega chili really adds some heat to the dish, and it makes it super yummy. You can get all kinds of sides there, too. We like the sweet potato fries. We like the regular fries. They have potato salad. But I really like that, like a diner, there’s a lot of options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> We did get a burger. We got the Mike’s Burger. It’s got the pepper Jack cheese and the jalapeños on it. Juicy burger, bun was great. The ratio of just, like, burger to vegetables to everything kind of played off of each other. And then you obviously got a side with it. We went with the chili. Probably would have opted for something different than the chili, maybe a salad. But overall, like, the burger was actually really, really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And what did you get to drink?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We had mimosas, and they were really yummy. They were the exact color that I like them. Barely orange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Almost an eyedropper of orange juice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Mostly champagne, but they have a wide variety of different drinks there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And in terms of value, you said the size is —\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> 100% great value. The price to portion, and quantity and quality of food ratio is outstanding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I would go back, especially for the pancakes. For the pancakes and the burger, I would stop by again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay. If you would like to try Cafe Soleil, it’s located on San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s a bit of a journey for Luis to get to his favorite seafood spot, but he says that’s all part of the fun. And once he’s there, it’s no holds barred as he slurps down fresh oysters by the dozens. Luckily, there’s always plenty more where those come from, in the Tomales Bay town of Marshall, which is home to Tony’s Seafood Restaurant. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> Tony’s Seafood is a restaurant started in 1948. It was started by a Croatian fishing family. We first started at Hog Island in 1983, and they were one of our first customers for oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> We all started talking a few years ago that if they ever decided to get out of the business, to let us know, and they did. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> I mean, Tony’s was always just this classic West Coast seafood house, you know, where the views were incredible, the beer was cold, you got fresh, local seafood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Oh, man. Check those out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man #2:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> There are not many places like this anywhere. We feel just so honored to be able to carry on the tradition. We feature a lot of local halibut, a lot of local rockfish, a lot of crab out of Bodega.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> I think that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> Of course, we have oysters and clams on the menu. But it’s really about those classics, like the fish and chips, clams and pasta. The sort of comfort seafood definitely is a big part of it. So, Marshall is a really unique place. This might feel super far away, but it’s really not that far. It’s an easy drive out here. I mean, we have incredible sunsets out the windows here, and I think it’s a really special place because of that. I mean, I love this. I love growing food in the bay. I’ve got saltwater in my veins. This has always been something that’s near and dear to me. And then to see people enjoy the food that you’ve grown is just a tremendous opportunity and tremendous honor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Luis, there are so many seafood spots in the Bay Area. How did this become your favorite?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> To be honest, I don’t even know where I found out about this spot, but we’ve been going there for, I want to say, five years now, at least. Of course, it’s kind of a journey. It’s kind of a trek, but once you finally get there, you’re just relaxed. It’s just a part of the vibe, getting the beer, getting the fresh oysters, being on the coast, like, the sun in your face.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s just the atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> The vibe. Now, is it true that you eat dozens—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Dozens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …of oysters? Dozens?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Dozens. We literally will. We know—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Is that like 24 or 36?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, yeah. When we get the beer and the champagne, it’s like, bring us a dozen. When they bring this dozen, they come and check on the beer and champagne. We’re ordering another dozen, you know what I mean? They just keep coming and coming. It’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay. And is there a particular type of oyster you like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> So, the smaller, the better, in my opinion. But the Kumamotos are honestly our favorite. They’re from Humboldt. They’re local. The brininess, the saltiness. You add a little bit of lemon on top with Crystal’s or Tabasco, whatever hot sauce is to your liking. They’re just really are amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just take your time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Just take your time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Take your time slurping. So, were you slurping when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We slurped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay, okay. Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Definitely. We got a dozen just for ourselves. They’re fresh, tasty, delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> And I like the Sweetwater one in particular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And I totally agree, when it comes to oysters, the smaller, the better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And the batch of dozen that we got, we just got tiny, beautiful, flavorful oysters. We ordered the 12 that they basically chose for us, and it did not disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> But we started with the Route One bread starter, which is half of a loaf of bread covered in black sesame seeds, and it almost had a bagel-like quality, and I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy bread that much. I really came for the oysters, but it was really good, and it came with this big honking piece of butter that was gone instantly. We had to ask for more, but it was sweet, and it was a really great addition to the rest of the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And did you get anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We got a lot. We got a lot. We ordered the grilled oysters. My wife and I loved. We got two of the garlic butter one and two of the miso butter one, and they were delicious, super savory. It was just novel, like a little bit of a Japanese twist to it. I got the Fish Tacos for myself. Very, very fresh and tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> They do have a seasonal rotating menu. Which tacos did you get?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> It came with rockfish, a little bit of cabbage, chipotle aioli. My wife got the mussels, and the thing that she was pleasantly surprised by is it had a little bit of chorizo in the mussels, which she liked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> And then a pro tip that I definitely personally recommend, especially for the mussels and the fries, you got to use the mussel as a spoon to get the broth and then slurp it up. It just makes it a part of the experience. It’s really what makes it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay, pro tip. We got it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you get something else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We did. We ordered several other things, but the standout for me was the Fish & Chips. It was a really light fry, and they had this beautiful white rockfish, super flaky. My husband is an expert fisherman, worked on a boat for many years. And so, I’m always kind of nervous when we eat the fish. Is it up to par? And he loved it, I loved it. A beautiful house-made tartar sauce. I would totally order that again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We also ordered the clam chowder. We loved it. The clams still have the shell on, so they were really, really fresh, and the aromatic vegetables that were added in there, great composition. There was a little bit of potato, celery, carrot, and even a little bit of bacon. The one thing to keep in mind is I’m not quite as used to having clam chowder that’s not, like, New England style and chunky. The one they have here at Tony’s is a little bit more soupy and liquidy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We had an It’s-It. It’s their only dessert item, which for a Bay Area restaurant, I respect that, the Bay Area treat, and that was really nice to have at the end of a big meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Yeah, when we went, they actually also had a second dessert option, which was a pie, but unfortunately, they ran out, and I was like, “Oh, my God, I really, really want to try that.” So, the next time we stop by, hopefully they’ll still have it on the menu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Value-wise, is it worth it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was worth it for me. But I would say next time, I would definitely consolidate my pennies on just the oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> There you go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> The oysters themselves were so outstanding. I would do what Luis did and maybe order five dozen of them, as opposed to just the one, and spreading it out over the menu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I can honestly recall, like, in the first times that we had gone there, we had went there literally for two months straight every weekend, just because of the oysters. We tried everything we possibly can. The specials are always changing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It sounds like it’s part of your life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely ingrained in my soul now, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> I would make a day of it. It was a great drive. It was a great experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> If you would like to try Tony’s Seafood Restaurant, it’s located on Shoreline Highway in Marshall, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $75.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now, reporter Cecilia Phillips hits the Marin County coast for a little oyster shucking 101. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So, we’re here up north in this beautiful bay with the water behind us and a ton of oysters around. What are some of the things that you love to educate people on about oysters?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Tomales Bay is a fascinating place, both historically and environmentally. It’s one of the only bays left in California that is clean enough to grow food-grade oysters. We actually harvest about 3, 3.5 million oysters a year. So, the whole Hog Farm experience is a special tour that we created to give the super fan a little extra look. We look at both the natural history and the aquaculture processes. This tank is called a nursery tank, and this is where we keep baby oysters. Check them out. About two millimeters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh, my gosh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Right? And so, it takes us about a year and a half to get that lovely raw bar-sized oyster. So, this is our stock in trade. This is a Hog Island sweetwater. It’s a Japanese or Miyagi variety. This is its close cousin, the Kumamoto, also from Japan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Well, this one is just so interesting to me because I’ve never seen this before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> This is the European flat oyster. This is what the Romans were eating. It’s one of the rarest oysters you’ll see in North America. And then these are the wild natives of the West Coast. Even though they’re different species from different parts of the world, we grow all these right here in Tomales Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay, so, let’s taste some oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Let’s go shuck some oysters and see what you’re made of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I’m ready. I’m ready to show you. Let’s go. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Cecilia, I’ve got a dozen oysters here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Are you ready?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Alright, my goal is to start here with the hinge and begin here. Okay, so here we go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Did you go to med school?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em> Oh, I got some shell. Aw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Here’s a little pro tip, Cecilia. I like to think of it as the Tomales Bay three-step. Right? So, when you put the knife in the hinge and apply pressure, just use a side-to-side motion. And that’ll keep you from breaking up the shell. I like to let the knife do the work for me. Do you notice you broke a sweat?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I was struggling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> You were struggling. So, if I just twist the knife, that action of the blade standing up will lift that shell. Now I’m going to slide the knife under the top shell. This is the second step. And free that top shell from the adductor muscle. Third thing is to separate the adductor muscle from the bottom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> And so, it’s easier to come up the side here and kind of release it versus digging straight in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> That’s right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Alright. So, I’m up underneath and then… oh, my gosh, that was so much easier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Well done. See?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So, after someone comes and does a full, whole-hog tour experience, you get to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> That’s right.\u003cem> [music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is slurping permitted?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Of course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Mmm. Did you have as much fun with me today as I had with you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> I had more fun, Cecilia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Aw, shucks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Oh, my…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> [laughs]\u003c/em> I did it. I had to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> You got to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I have to thank my great guests on this week’s show — Charles Tsang, who busts his belly with the crispy pies at Cicero’s Pizza in San Jose; Luis Ferguson, who zips up to Marin every chance he gets to Tony’s Seafood Restaurant in Marshall; and Laurel Valaris, who’s crazy for the Cobb Salad at Cafe Soleil in El Sobrante. So, join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers, everyone. Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Cheers. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[high-pitched voice]\u003c/em> We’re here at Hog Island… \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em> Is there a best way to eat oysters?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Raw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah. Raw with a lot of Hogwash is the best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Raw with horseradish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> I like them grilled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #4:\u003c/strong> I’ve tried it in an oyster pot pie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #5:\u003c/strong> I’m going to say raw, but a close second is the barbecue here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #7:\u003c/strong> You know what? We haven’t quite worked up to solids yet, but when we do, I think oysters are at the top of our list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man #2:\u003c/strong> There’s no right or wrong way to eat an oyster, as long as you’re eating it.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Cicero's Pizza, Cafe Soleil, Tony's Seafood Restaurant | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 11, airs Thursday, November 21, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, our journey begins in San Jose at \u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong>, a beloved local institution since 1968, offering thin-crust, crispy-edged pies loaded with fresh toppings. Next, guests visit \u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> in El Sobrante, a charming spot for comforting breakfast and lunch classics, from chicken fried steak to sweet cream pancakes. Then, it’s off to the Marshall’s scenic coast and \u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong>, where diners enjoy fresh, sustainably sourced seafood with breathtaking views of Tomales Bay. Lastly, reporter Cecilia Phillips wraps up the episode with a tour of \u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong>, where she dives into the world of oysters, exploring how these bivalves go from ocean to table.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23281\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23281\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1911_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Charles Tsang, Laurel Valaris and Luis Ferguson from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://cicerospizza.com/\">\u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://cafe-soleil.com/the-cafe\">\u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> (El Sobrante)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://tonysseafoodrestaurant.com/\">\u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hogislandoysters.com/hog-hq/farm-tours/\">\u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23327\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-800x974.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"974\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-800x974.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1020x1242.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-160x195.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-768x935.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1261x1536.jpg 1261w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1682x2048.jpg 1682w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1911_Wines-1920x2338.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://us.bolledrinks.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Bolle Rosé, Twice Fermented Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>$30\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>With the surge of interest in nonalcoholic beverages, nonalcoholic beer leads the way with plenty that taste similar to their alcoholic counterparts. That’s followed closely by faux spirits used to make virgin versions of cocktails. I find nonalcoholic wine, however, lags behind both these categories in terms of options that taste like wine with alcohol. That is, until I sampled the new sparklers from Bolle. A Europe-based company founded by Italian Roberto Vanin, this pink fizz looks stylishly elegant and tastes delicious — making you want another glass, or three. Enticingly delicate red berry fruit aromas lead the way with this crisp, flavorful bubbly (clocking in at a mere 15 calories per serving). It’s an ideal option for savvy sippers of all sorts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"http://thacherwinery.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Thacher 2022 Grenache, Homestead Hill Vineyard\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>\u003cspan class=\"contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_1291_1337\" role=\"button\">Willow Creek District, Paso Robles, California\u003c/span> $65\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003c/b>One of my favorite red grapes is Grenache. It’s a unique variety responsible for the likes of hearty French Rhône reds and spicy Spanish stunners. In Paso Robles, California, however, it has found its American home. One Grenache that’s a shining star is a small-production version from Thacher Winery. This family-owned spot specializes in handcrafted, terroir-driven wines. Their Homestead Hill Vineyard Grenache is hand-harvested, hand-sorted, gently basket pressed, then aged in concrete tulips, and finally bottled unfiltered and unfined. Exploding with medium-bodied freshness and complexity, it showcases wild strawberry and maraschino cherry succulence, followed by a spicy kick and vibrant yet plush texture. A perfect partner for braised meats or fiery veggie chili.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\">\u003cb>\u003ca href=\"https://montelena.com\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Chateau Montelena 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003c/b>\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $85\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>\u003cb>\u003c/b>When it comes to California classics, look no further than Chateau Montelena. I adore this winery, its story, its wines and its people. The historic winery, begun by Alfred Tubbs in the 1880s, is one of Napa Valley’s most beautiful properties to visit, with gorgeous grounds and a grand chateau. Nearly 100 years after its founding, it became even more famous when their 1973 Chardonnay bested French versions in the benchmark “Judgement of Paris” wine competition of 1976. They are, however, known for their Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings — and for good reason. The 2021 Cabernet is structured and age-worthy, but also ready to drink now with a few hours of decanting and alongside a sumptuous grilled steak. Sporting dark berry fruit notes layered with hints of toasty oak spiciness and a lush finish, this collectible wine is yet another reason to love Montelena.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> An old-school pizzeria in San Jose…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was just such a heartwarming experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …a cozy brunch spot in El Sobrante…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> This dish defeated me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …and fresh seafood by the Bay in Marshall…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It’s definitely ingrained in my soul.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Never seen anything like this before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Were you slurping?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We slurped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughs] \u003c/em>\u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. Now, we have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check ’em out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today are product marketing executive Charles Tsang, FDA inspector Luis Ferguson, and Deputy Director with the City of Oakland Laurel Valaris. Welcome, everyone. How are you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Doing great.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Great. Thanks for having us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright. Charles is throwing it all the way back to 1968 with his nostalgic pick, a pizzeria that’s been serving up their signature crispy crust pies for more than five decades. Tucked away in West San Jose, it’s Cicero’s Pizza.\u003cem> [music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> When someone new comes into Cicero’s Pizza, I think the first vibe they’re gonna get is this is an old-fashioned pizzeria.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> Rhiannon, your pizza is ready. Rhiannon.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> We’re not trying to be fancy, but we excel at what we do. So, Cicero’s Pizza’s recipe originally started in Niagara Falls, New York. There was a fellow named Pee-Wee—it was his mother’s recipe from Sicily. And eventually, when he moved from Niagara Falls to Cupertino, Nunzio Cicero bought one of the pizzerias. So he ran the place from 1968 to 2001. I worked for him going through college, and then carried on the legacy for the last 20 years at this location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> You guys gonna eat here or take out? Our tagline is “The Pizza with the Secret.” Everyone asks me, “So, Rik, what’s the secret?” And as I tell them, “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>[Scraping sound]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> Unlike any other place in the Bay Area that I know of, Cicero’s Pizza cooks the pizzas in a pan with oil, so it kind of fries the bottom, makes a nice, crispy crust, which you don’t find very often. A lot of people that start pizzerias are able to just get off-the-shelf—cans of tomato sauce. That’s not what we do at all. We make our own spice mixture. It has some sweetness to it, and it’s a very unique and great taste.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> The key is getting the cheese on. My favorite pizza is probably just a plain old cheese pizza. I like cheese. That’s how you can really tell whether a pizza is any good or not. Toppings can vary. The pizza itself—cheese—you’re always gonna know. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rik Jones:\u003c/strong> It is a family business, very family-focused. We have photos on the wall of many of our customers. For example, we have Steve Wozniak, whose family has been coming here long before he started Apple Computer. But we have a lot of what we call Cicero’s babies. And they’re either customers who met here or their first date was here—they end up getting married and having children. We have a number of employees who’ve met here and have had children, so we got a lot of little Cicero’s babies out there. We have great history, and I’m glad about that. But the real reason people come here is ’cause they know they’re gonna get a great pizza—every single time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All: \u003c/strong>♪ Happy birthday to you ♪\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, Charles, how old were you when you had your first bite of Cicero’s Pizza?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> I was 16 years old. My friends and I, we all grew up in Cupertino, so it was like a local spot for us. After my first visit, I was hooked, and I’ve been going ever since.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And do you have a pie that you just love?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> So, I’m a big eater. There’s multiple pies—I usually get a couple for myself, and my wife will share a little bit of it. So I’m a big fan of the Belly Buster pizza. It comes with pepperoni, Italian sausage, salami, a ton of different vegetables, mushrooms, peppers. It usually comes with onions, but I’m not an onion guy, so I forgo that. It’s a delicious pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It was actually one of my favorite pizzas that we had there. And the Italian sausage isn’t chunks of Italian sausage—it’s more like chopped-up Italian sausage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s like a fine crumble.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Well, it was one of the four pies, actually, that we had, so…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> We’ll be here a long time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Yeah. \u003cem>[Chuckles]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We ate a lot, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> So, we went with four people. So we each kind of like got our own thing. We also had the Baker’s Pride, which was like your typical supreme pizza—your vegetables, and I believe it had a different type of sausage than was on the Belly Buster, which was cool because we got to try both of the sausages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, veggies—you had, like, mushrooms, bell pepper, onions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly. Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Blue-cheese salad.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And it was a really classic pizza place. Like, there’s no appetizers except for two massive salads—one house, one Caesar—and we tried both, which was perfect because they’re like $5…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> …for this big, heaping plate of salad, which justified the pizza for us. And it’s exactly what you would imagine your local pizza place’s salad to look like—like, big hunks of lettuce, one or two vegetables, and those little square croutons from your childhood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> But it was really yummy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Nice. My other favorite pizza that I get there is the All Meat Combo. It’s delicious. It’s hearty. It’s got a ton of different meats on it—pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, ham. But they don’t overdo it with the composition of meat. It’s really, really well-balanced. It’s super, super savory, super delicious. And the thing that really elevates the pizza overall—and this goes for all the pizzas, not just the meat lover’s pizza—is the crispy crust. It is like one of a kind. I’ve never had a thin-crust pizza quite like that before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I was even, like, trying to think of, like, New York-style pizza. I mean, I know it’s like a New York-style pizza spot, but the crust is completely different than any New York-style pizza that I’ve had before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Right. It’s not foldable, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Unh-unh. No, it’s—and it’s good, too. I actually really enjoyed the crust. I usually leave the crust behind, but this one, I ate it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> This one you ate the crust.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I ate the crust. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> So, we took a page out of your book. We had five small pizzas. So, we all got to try a little, and we had Hawaiian, which was really good, like unexpectedly a favorite of ours. Really thin ham.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And the owner actually talked to us a little bit about the sauce.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> That’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And they make it all there, and they always have. She told us all of the ingredients except for one, which is a secret. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> And the sauce was really, really good, really tangy, and on top of that cracker crust, it made for a really great pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, we also got the Spicy Vegetarian, which surprisingly enough, I actually liked more of any of the pizza that we had there. The fresh tomatoes that were on there, the jalapeños that were roasted, the onions. It just all complemented themselves. And then my sister-in-law actually got a pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. She custom-made it. And even though she got the medium of that one, but we got the smalls of the other three, we literally almost finished everything. That’s really what made it—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> When they said spicy on that spicy vegetarian, they meant it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It’s really spicy. I even took off the jalapeños, just to kind of get the essence of it. And it was really spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, be aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Be aware.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Yeah? Do you drink anything there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> We got a pitcher of Modelos, which I feel like goes hand in hand with pizza. Yeah, the beer, they got a nice local beer selection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Yeah. It felt like a really nostalgic place. Like, we all have our hometown pizza place, and this felt like the kind of place that if you were from that area of San Jose, you would, like, go off to college and come back and have to have Cicero’s.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> It’d be on your list, for sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Totally. So, it felt like it was a special place for a lot of families.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> You’ve described me, like, right there. Like, to this day, every birthday, my wife will be like, “What do you want for your birthday?” I’m like, “Can we just go to Cicero’s?” That’s all I want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> That was the vibe, for sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> That’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It is. And the service was exceptional. I mean, it was fast service, but even above that, the owners were so happy to see me and my young family there. I actually brought my five-day-old to the restaurant along with my two toddlers. And some folks may, like, shy away from that much kid activity in a busy spot. But the owner actually was so pumped that my baby—it was their first restaurant experience at Cicero’s—that she brought out a little red onesie that said Cicero’s Pizza and two T-shirts for my two little boys. And it was just overall such a heartwarming experience for us that I wouldn’t normally drive down to San Jose just for pizza, but I totally would, just based on that experience alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Alright, well, if you would like to try Cicero’s Pizza, it’s located on Bollinger Road in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $20.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> As a mom to three little ones, Laurel is a huge fan of classic diners where the menu, service, and vibe is all-around family friendly. Luckily, her neighborhood hangout checks all those boxes. Located in El Sobrante, it’s Cafe Soleil. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Server:\u003c/strong> Chicken fried steak.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Cafe Soleil means to me sun, light, love, community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> A lot of people that walk in the door are kind of amazed, because it looks like a little hidden place. And they come in, and it’s such a nice big open spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> There’s just something about starting someone’s day with a good breakfast. Cafe Soleil has been here since 1997. At 18, I had the opportunity to open my own small café. I was the cook, the waitress, the dishwasher, the prepper, the busser, and Todd was one of my customers. He used to order French toast, bacon, and over-medium eggs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I was always going around and trying to find the best breakfasts everywhere I could go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> And he was like, “I’ve always wanted a little café.” And I’m like, “Great, I’m going to teach you to cook.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> We serve steaks, burgers and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> Salads, homemade soups, and we even have a vegan menu. I love the vegan avocado toast—fresh-shaved radish, arugula, fresh jalapeños, fresh cherry tomatoes. It’s just garden fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Todd Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> Our portion sizes are actually very large. Our customers, when they leave here are very satisfied.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I hope they just feel full and happy and content and energized, but not so much where they’re like, “I need to go sleep.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Server:\u003c/strong> Alright, you guys.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Arrouzet:\u003c/strong> I would say 99% of every employee that we hired in 1998 still works for us, to this day. We all grew up together, and we all built this business. They are so intertwined with these customers. It’s amazing. It’s family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Laurel, obviously you need a family-friendly spot, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And this one is your favorite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It is my favorite. Not only is it super kid-friendly, but also the food is really, really good. I feel like it’s hard to find a neighborhood diner where everything is consistent, and for me, Cafe Soleil is that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, what do you get when you go in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> One of the things I really like to share with my family is the Workers Special. It’s biscuits and gravy with a little bit of spice to it. It has kind of a smoky taste, and then you can get a meat side or egg side, anything of your choosing—over-easy, sausage, bacon. And so, that’s something that we all usually share. And then this time around, my husband got the Chicken Fried Steak. And it was a very thin-sliced piece of steak, really crispy. And the eggs over-easy serving as, like, an additional sauce was a real win. So, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I actually got the same thing, and I didn’t even have to cut it with a knife, actually.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Oh, really? Cut it with a fork?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Cut it with my fork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Oh, that’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah. Super juicy, super tender. It wasn’t dry at all. Sometimes you go to places with chicken fried steak, and it might be a little dry. Definitely not the case here. My wife, she was blown away by this restaurant. She actually literally said it was the best breakfast place that she’s been to in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Wow.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> And she is kind of like a breakfast potato connoisseur. And she loved the home fries. They had this nice, thin, crispy layer, perfectly seasoned. She loved it. The Workers Special, like you said, was great. And I know I mentioned earlier, I’m a big eater. No, this dish defeated me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>All:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> I was defeated after this dish. But it was great, and the biscuits were very, very fluffy. It was amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We also got a side with the pancakes. Sweet Cream Pancakes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, Sweet Cream Pancakes. Yeah, they were super good, actually. That was, like, one of the highlights for my breakfast.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Didn’t it taste just like the sweet cream you would put in your coffee?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly. And, like, even with syrup over the pancakes, the Sweet Cream Pancake itself shined through no matter how much syrup you drenched on it or dipped onto it, which was really nice, was refreshing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Were they big pancakes?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> They were plate-sized. We only actually got one because of everything that we got. I mean, I wish I would have gotten more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> So, this is also a lunch spot, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> So, my standard order is usually the Cobb Salad. I wouldn’t normally send someone to a restaurant specifically for a salad, but this is, like, a big, epic meal salad. But then it has really hearty elements like chicken. It has bacon, it has boiled egg, it has a really beautiful house-made blue cheese, and together it makes for at least two meals for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We also had the Green Chili & Jack Burger, which is a really beautiful charbroiled burger, and it has this thick piece of Jack cheese on it with grilled Ortega chili. And that Ortega chili really adds some heat to the dish, and it makes it super yummy. You can get all kinds of sides there, too. We like the sweet potato fries. We like the regular fries. They have potato salad. But I really like that, like a diner, there’s a lot of options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> We did get a burger. We got the Mike’s Burger. It’s got the pepper Jack cheese and the jalapeños on it. Juicy burger, bun was great. The ratio of just, like, burger to vegetables to everything kind of played off of each other. And then you obviously got a side with it. We went with the chili. Probably would have opted for something different than the chili, maybe a salad. But overall, like, the burger was actually really, really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And what did you get to drink?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We had mimosas, and they were really yummy. They were the exact color that I like them. Barely orange.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Almost an eyedropper of orange juice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Mostly champagne, but they have a wide variety of different drinks there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And in terms of value, you said the size is —\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> 100% great value. The price to portion, and quantity and quality of food ratio is outstanding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> I would go back, especially for the pancakes. For the pancakes and the burger, I would stop by again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay. If you would like to try Cafe Soleil, it’s located on San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $25.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s a bit of a journey for Luis to get to his favorite seafood spot, but he says that’s all part of the fun. And once he’s there, it’s no holds barred as he slurps down fresh oysters by the dozens. Luckily, there’s always plenty more where those come from, in the Tomales Bay town of Marshall, which is home to Tony’s Seafood Restaurant. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> Tony’s Seafood is a restaurant started in 1948. It was started by a Croatian fishing family. We first started at Hog Island in 1983, and they were one of our first customers for oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> We all started talking a few years ago that if they ever decided to get out of the business, to let us know, and they did. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> I mean, Tony’s was always just this classic West Coast seafood house, you know, where the views were incredible, the beer was cold, you got fresh, local seafood.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Oh, man. Check those out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man #2:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> There are not many places like this anywhere. We feel just so honored to be able to carry on the tradition. We feature a lot of local halibut, a lot of local rockfish, a lot of crab out of Bodega.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> I think that one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>John Finger:\u003c/strong> Of course, we have oysters and clams on the menu. But it’s really about those classics, like the fish and chips, clams and pasta. The sort of comfort seafood definitely is a big part of it. So, Marshall is a really unique place. This might feel super far away, but it’s really not that far. It’s an easy drive out here. I mean, we have incredible sunsets out the windows here, and I think it’s a really special place because of that. I mean, I love this. I love growing food in the bay. I’ve got saltwater in my veins. This has always been something that’s near and dear to me. And then to see people enjoy the food that you’ve grown is just a tremendous opportunity and tremendous honor.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Now, Luis, there are so many seafood spots in the Bay Area. How did this become your favorite?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> To be honest, I don’t even know where I found out about this spot, but we’ve been going there for, I want to say, five years now, at least. Of course, it’s kind of a journey. It’s kind of a trek, but once you finally get there, you’re just relaxed. It’s just a part of the vibe, getting the beer, getting the fresh oysters, being on the coast, like, the sun in your face.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It’s just the atmosphere.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> The vibe. Now, is it true that you eat dozens—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Dozens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> …of oysters? Dozens?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Dozens. We literally will. We know—\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Is that like 24 or 36?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, yeah, yeah. When we get the beer and the champagne, it’s like, bring us a dozen. When they bring this dozen, they come and check on the beer and champagne. We’re ordering another dozen, you know what I mean? They just keep coming and coming. It’s awesome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay. And is there a particular type of oyster you like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> So, the smaller, the better, in my opinion. But the Kumamotos are honestly our favorite. They’re from Humboldt. They’re local. The brininess, the saltiness. You add a little bit of lemon on top with Crystal’s or Tabasco, whatever hot sauce is to your liking. They’re just really are amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Just take your time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Just take your time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Take your time slurping. So, were you slurping when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We slurped.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay, okay. Alright.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Definitely. We got a dozen just for ourselves. They’re fresh, tasty, delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> And I like the Sweetwater one in particular.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And I totally agree, when it comes to oysters, the smaller, the better.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yep.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> And the batch of dozen that we got, we just got tiny, beautiful, flavorful oysters. We ordered the 12 that they basically chose for us, and it did not disappoint.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> But we started with the Route One bread starter, which is half of a loaf of bread covered in black sesame seeds, and it almost had a bagel-like quality, and I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy bread that much. I really came for the oysters, but it was really good, and it came with this big honking piece of butter that was gone instantly. We had to ask for more, but it was sweet, and it was a really great addition to the rest of the meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And did you get anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We got a lot. We got a lot. We ordered the grilled oysters. My wife and I loved. We got two of the garlic butter one and two of the miso butter one, and they were delicious, super savory. It was just novel, like a little bit of a Japanese twist to it. I got the Fish Tacos for myself. Very, very fresh and tasty.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> They do have a seasonal rotating menu. Which tacos did you get?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> It came with rockfish, a little bit of cabbage, chipotle aioli. My wife got the mussels, and the thing that she was pleasantly surprised by is it had a little bit of chorizo in the mussels, which she liked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> And then a pro tip that I definitely personally recommend, especially for the mussels and the fries, you got to use the mussel as a spoon to get the broth and then slurp it up. It just makes it a part of the experience. It’s really what makes it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay, pro tip. We got it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Did you get something else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We did. We ordered several other things, but the standout for me was the Fish & Chips. It was a really light fry, and they had this beautiful white rockfish, super flaky. My husband is an expert fisherman, worked on a boat for many years. And so, I’m always kind of nervous when we eat the fish. Is it up to par? And he loved it, I loved it. A beautiful house-made tartar sauce. I would totally order that again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> We also ordered the clam chowder. We loved it. The clams still have the shell on, so they were really, really fresh, and the aromatic vegetables that were added in there, great composition. There was a little bit of potato, celery, carrot, and even a little bit of bacon. The one thing to keep in mind is I’m not quite as used to having clam chowder that’s not, like, New England style and chunky. The one they have here at Tony’s is a little bit more soupy and liquidy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> We had an It’s-It. It’s their only dessert item, which for a Bay Area restaurant, I respect that, the Bay Area treat, and that was really nice to have at the end of a big meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Charles Tsang:\u003c/strong> Yeah, when we went, they actually also had a second dessert option, which was a pie, but unfortunately, they ran out, and I was like, “Oh, my God, I really, really want to try that.” So, the next time we stop by, hopefully they’ll still have it on the menu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> Value-wise, is it worth it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> It was worth it for me. But I would say next time, I would definitely consolidate my pennies on just the oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> There you go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> The oysters themselves were so outstanding. I would do what Luis did and maybe order five dozen of them, as opposed to just the one, and spreading it out over the menu.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I can honestly recall, like, in the first times that we had gone there, we had went there literally for two months straight every weekend, just because of the oysters. We tried everything we possibly can. The specials are always changing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> It sounds like it’s part of your life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Luis Ferguson:\u003c/strong> Yeah, I mean, it’s definitely ingrained in my soul now, you know?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> I would make a day of it. It was a great drive. It was a great experience.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> If you would like to try Tony’s Seafood Restaurant, it’s located on Shoreline Highway in Marshall, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $75.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> And now, reporter Cecilia Phillips hits the Marin County coast for a little oyster shucking 101. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So, we’re here up north in this beautiful bay with the water behind us and a ton of oysters around. What are some of the things that you love to educate people on about oysters?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Tomales Bay is a fascinating place, both historically and environmentally. It’s one of the only bays left in California that is clean enough to grow food-grade oysters. We actually harvest about 3, 3.5 million oysters a year. So, the whole Hog Farm experience is a special tour that we created to give the super fan a little extra look. We look at both the natural history and the aquaculture processes. This tank is called a nursery tank, and this is where we keep baby oysters. Check them out. About two millimeters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Oh, my gosh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Right? And so, it takes us about a year and a half to get that lovely raw bar-sized oyster. So, this is our stock in trade. This is a Hog Island sweetwater. It’s a Japanese or Miyagi variety. This is its close cousin, the Kumamoto, also from Japan.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Well, this one is just so interesting to me because I’ve never seen this before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> This is the European flat oyster. This is what the Romans were eating. It’s one of the rarest oysters you’ll see in North America. And then these are the wild natives of the West Coast. Even though they’re different species from different parts of the world, we grow all these right here in Tomales Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay, so, let’s taste some oysters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Let’s go shuck some oysters and see what you’re made of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I’m ready. I’m ready to show you. Let’s go. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Cecilia, I’ve got a dozen oysters here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Are you ready?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Alright, my goal is to start here with the hinge and begin here. Okay, so here we go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Did you go to med school?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em> Oh, I got some shell. Aw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Here’s a little pro tip, Cecilia. I like to think of it as the Tomales Bay three-step. Right? So, when you put the knife in the hinge and apply pressure, just use a side-to-side motion. And that’ll keep you from breaking up the shell. I like to let the knife do the work for me. Do you notice you broke a sweat?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> I was struggling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> You were struggling. So, if I just twist the knife, that action of the blade standing up will lift that shell. Now I’m going to slide the knife under the top shell. This is the second step. And free that top shell from the adductor muscle. Third thing is to separate the adductor muscle from the bottom.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> And so, it’s easier to come up the side here and kind of release it versus digging straight in?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> That’s right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Alright. So, I’m up underneath and then… oh, my gosh, that was so much easier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Well done. See?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> So, after someone comes and does a full, whole-hog tour experience, you get to eat.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> That’s right.\u003cem> [music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Is slurping permitted?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Of course.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Mmm. Did you have as much fun with me today as I had with you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> I had more fun, Cecilia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> Aw, shucks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> Oh, my…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong>\u003cem> [laughs]\u003c/em> I did it. I had to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Gary Fleener:\u003c/strong> You got to do it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/strong> I have to thank my great guests on this week’s show — Charles Tsang, who busts his belly with the crispy pies at Cicero’s Pizza in San Jose; Luis Ferguson, who zips up to Marin every chance he gets to Tony’s Seafood Restaurant in Marshall; and Laurel Valaris, who’s crazy for the Cobb Salad at Cafe Soleil in El Sobrante. So, join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers, everyone. Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Laurel Valaris:\u003c/strong> Cheers. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[high-pitched voice]\u003c/em> We’re here at Hog Island… \u003cem>[laughs]\u003c/em> Is there a best way to eat oysters?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Raw.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Oh, yeah. Raw with a lot of Hogwash is the best.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Raw with horseradish.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> I like them grilled.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #4:\u003c/strong> I’ve tried it in an oyster pot pie.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #5:\u003c/strong> I’m going to say raw, but a close second is the barbecue here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #7:\u003c/strong> You know what? We haven’t quite worked up to solids yet, but when we do, I think oysters are at the top of our list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: The Hideout Kitchen, Tostadas, Pixiu Mala Hongtang",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 9, airs Thursday, November 7, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our culinary exploration begins in Lafayette at \u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong>, where diners enjoy elevated comfort food in a cozy, hidden gem of a restaurant, featuring dishes like mascarpone toast and honey fried chicken. Next, the journey takes us to San Jose at \u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong>, a lively spot known for its creative and colorful Mexican fare, with standout dishes like tostadas de birria and birria bacon cheeseburgers. Then, it’s off to Oakland at \u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong>, where the bold, numbing spices of Sichuan cuisine are showcased in fiery hot pots, offering a customizable dining experience featuring dozens of different ingredients. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips visits \u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> onboard the USS Hornet in Alameda for the World Goth Day Festival, where she explores a quirky market filled with curious and unusual finds, from taxidermy to artisanal food creations that delight and surprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23279\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23279\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Francis Penrose, Sonya Holcombe and Piña Bleep from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hideoutkitchen.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong> (Lafayette)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://tostadassj.com/\">\u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://pixiufnc.com/layout/eng/home.php?go=main\">\u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://themenagerieodditiesmarket.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> (Alameda)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23312\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-800x1008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1008\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-800x1008.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1020x1285.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-160x202.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-768x968.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1219x1536.jpg 1219w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1625x2048.jpg 1625w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1920x2419.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-scaled.jpg 2032w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.adamiprosecco.it/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Adami 2022 “Vigneto Giardino” Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Rive di Colbertaldo\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy $30\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>A stunning sparkler from the highest-quality tier of Prosecco Superiore. Adami has been producing noted Prosecco in northern Italy for more than 90 years. This is the winery’s historic flagship bottling due to its lineage. It hails from a single-vineyard cru from vines nearly a century old. The wine is stylish and crisp, with inviting citrus aromas and nutty intensity. With a price tag of only $30, it is a wine worth twice the price and one to seek out when looking for the best in bubbly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://dollywines.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Dolly 2023 Chardonnay\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California $15\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nVivacious singer Dolly Parton is in the wine game now, bringing her joyful personality to bottlings from still to sparkling. The brand’s goal is to bring friends and family together with well-priced, easy-drinking wines. The deliciously fruit-forward Dolly Chardonnay is a white with a kiss of oaky spiciness and a touch of vibrancy. On the website, they describe the hue of the white as “reminiscent of a morning sun in the Smoky Mountains.” Sounds like a song to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://farniente.com/wineries/post-and-beam\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Post & Beam 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $55\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nAs part of the Far Niente family of wines, Post & Beam takes its inspiration from the historic barns at Nickel & Nickel Winery in Napa Valley. This luscious Cabernet Sauvignon includes a touch of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, adding complexity and depth. Dark fruit notes and a hint of cocoa come through on the nose, with a mouthfeel that is rich and elegant. If you want a classically styled Napa Cabernet Sauvignon without a huge price tag, this beauty is the answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> A honey of a fried chicken in Lafayette…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> And I thought, “Bingo, right there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> …mouthwatering Mexican birria in San Jose…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Bring it on. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> …and a build-your-own hot-pot spot in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I have not stopped thinking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” It’s all about the salsa!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa! \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Yeah. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. We have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today — VP of sales Francis Penrose, tattoo artist and karaoke host Piña Bleep, and communications professional Sonya Holcombe. Welcome, everyone. Are you ready for a show?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> So happy to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Whenever Sonya gets asked, “Let’s do lunch” by her friends, she knows exactly where to meet up. For more than a decade, she’s found the perfect midday retreat at a warm and welcoming hometown hangout. Located in Lafayette, it’s The Hideout Kitchen and Café.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit\u003c/strong>: What you drinking? \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> The Hideout Kitchen is a place that feels familiar. It’s comfortable when you walk in, whether it be the first time or your 100th time, you’ll find some familiarity with the people the hospitality and the food,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> The texture, the pesto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> So good. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit:\u003c/strong> Our menu is a reflection of my culinary upbringing. There’s a lot of influence of my childhood. Spanish Filipino-style cooking. Lots of stewing, lots of braising, lots of grilling. And a lot of seafood. But it’s also a reflection of my career in the Bay Area as a chef for the last 15 years. I found my lane. And I would call it California comfort food. When we first opened, I really needed a signature dish, which was our waffle sandwich. Two waffles with a country-fried steak, some cheese, an over-easy egg, country gravy… Wish I could tell you what is in all this, but I won’t. …and some powdered sugar and a nugget of butter. All right, brother, And we ask you to eat it with a little bit of syrup and Tabasco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit:\u003c/strong> I’m having fun with some of our seasonal items, like our pork chop is delicious right now. The tuna melt panini you can’t go wrong with, Our porchetta on polenta is one of my favorites. You know, people talk about the vibe a lot when they come into our restaurants, and I love music, it’s my first love. And I love a lot of independent artists, I love a lot of mainstream R&B. And so the energy in the music plays a big part of the overall vibe. Thank you, brother. I hope that when you dine here, you feel the sense of community, because California comfort food encompasses so many different cultures. And no matter what culture you belong to or what ethnicity you belong to, you’ll find something that feels like home to you here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So you’ve been going to this place, Sonya, for over a decade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> And the reason why is…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> So one of the things that originally brought me into the restaurant was that I heard that the owner was from the Philippines, and although not a Filipino restaurant, my mom’s from the Philippines, so I was intrigued by that. And then the mixture of that with the ambiance, the atmosphere of it being just this elevated comfort-food vibe, it was just a home run for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, so what do you start with?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> My favorite starter is the kale and pancetta salad. When it comes out, it has this fluffy, billowy pile of parmesan on top, crispy chickpeas, and it has apples and apricots that give it that sweet balance. And fresh kale, broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Is it a big salad or is it small?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> it’s very big, so you can definitely share it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I loved the mascarpone toast, and the French bread was toasted really nicely, so it was a nice texture of crunchy bread and buttery mascarpone with some almonds and the truffle honey. Just so many flavors that were really nice. And textures. I’m a big textures person. I love my textures. So having that balance of both, absolutely delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’m the type of guy that goes straight for the entrée. So I didn’t even go for an appetizer. So I went straight to the honey fried chicken. And in fact the plating was very nice. That kale, I was a little hesitant because I’m not a kale person, right? I always think it’s going to be bitter or something like that, but it was braised. I could have eaten a whole plate of it. Seriously, I could have eaten a whole plate of that side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> You are a kale believer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I am. Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> “Kale” yeah!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Smashed potatoes were cold. I was just a little surprised at that. Right? But then I cut into that chicken, just hearing the crisp, it was like, okay, here comes the test. I took a bite. The umami flavor of the truffle honey was really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I agree with everything you just said, other than the fact that the smashed potatoes were cold. That’s too bad, but they’re amazing. But the chicken, it’s just that, like, salty, but with the sweet, totally moist. I’ve had it dozens of times and it’s never been a disappointment. It’s always delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> The sweet potato fries are home run. I am not a big sweet potato fry person. I prefer the traditional potatoes. And we actually got both. The crunch on those sweet potato fries were just so perfect. And then inside it’s like this creamy potato. They’re really, really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the baked rigatoni and cheese, which I love cheese. Yeah, it was really good. It was definitely a very homey mac and cheese. And then that crispy breadcrumb on top was just a nice touch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And they say “Spanish spices” in the menu. And it’s like adult mac and cheese.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> And what about something to drink alongside your meal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I usually have a glass of wine. They have a really nice wine list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I had an Arnold Palmer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Oh, nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I take a sip of it and immediately I said, “Why is this Arnold Palmer so good?” \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> Then he laughed. He says, “Because we make our own lemonade.” And I thought, “Bingo, right there.” So I took a second sip, and of course I finished it on the second sip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Did you have anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> You know, I did, Leslie. I ordered the dessert. And when he mentioned to me that there was a pear tart, I was in the mood for fruit. So I thought, “This will be perfect.” So when they brought it out, I was surprised ’cause it was a few pears on a puff pastry with a few black figs on there. I’m not a fig person, okay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Ah. Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> But it had ice cream on there, it was warm, and it was good. Actually, I want to mention that I went back the following week, and I will go back again because I love their menu, and it makes me want to try more of the stuff, especially the rigatoni that you talked about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, did you feel like you got good value?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I think that the prices were quite fair. I loved all the staff there because when I asked for my check, I went like this, and my partner was like, “That might not be very appropriate.” And so I was like, “Is that appropriate?” I asked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yeah, that’s cute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> And then we were all laughing about it. I did feel like it was more upscale, so I wouldn’t necessarily, personally, go for lunch. But if I’m balling on a budget, I will. And if I’m in Lafayette, maybe so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, go with Francis and he’ll pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll take care of you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Okay, let’s go. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I’m so happy you guys liked it and enjoyed it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> That’s great. Well, if you would like to try The Hideout Kitchen and Café, it’s located on Lafayette Circle in Lafayette, and the average lunch tab per person without drinks is around $45. Francis’s job takes him south of the border nearly every other week. On all those travels, he’s developed an appreciation for the regional cuisine of Tijuana and Guadalajara. In between trips, when he’s hoping to satisfy those cravings, there’s just one spot he thinks is up to the task. Located in San Jose’s Midtown, it’s Tostadas. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Grab it, grab it. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Tostadas is always a party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> Everybody says it’s a vibe because people come and enjoy the moment they walk in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Speaking Spanish]\u003c/em> We started our restaurant in 2019, me and Alex, the two brothers. They call us the Tostadas Brothers. And Carla is amazing. She helps us with our Midtown location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> So we’re family here. We want you to feel like a family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> There we go. We decided that you could do a lot with tostadas, from breakfast and lunch to dinner. We do different colors, from a blue corn to a red tostada that’s made out of tomato. We always do double tostada to get the nice crunch. One reason Tostadas got known for is we break the rules toward traditional Mexican food. We try to innovate with our flavors, like our bacon birria burger. You must try it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> Is that a pizza?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> We do have our birria pizzadilla. It’s a quesadilla, but it has birria and it’s formed like a pizza, so it’s really, really good. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> My mom’s name is Maria. She comes by sometimes and makes sure everything’s tasting the same. We know that we’re doing the right thing when she comes and enjoys everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Every cocktail that we created, it’s only created at Tostadas. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> We have a drink called mega cantaro, which is more for big parties. They have a whole bottle of tequila. People enjoy seeing the big bottles going into the cantaro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Shot on the house.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Holy moly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> We always say each guest is a family for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Child:\u003c/strong> It looks good already, but it’s hot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> I just want everybody to leave happy from here and just make everybody feel welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So, Francis, you spend a lot of time in Mexico. What is it about Tostadas that makes it so similar to your experiences in Mexico?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> The way the food looks, the presentation. And they have such a wide menu. I mean, I’ve had friends order the octopus. It’s beautiful when it comes out. To me, that reminds me clearly of when I go to Guadalajara\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> There’s such beautiful food around Guadalajara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Oh, Guadalajara is wonderful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Unbelievable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> So I did not know what birria tacos were when I first got in there. So it was a beautiful plate. Three tacos. I could see the beef just oozing out and the cheese, the way they sprinkled the onions and the cilantro on it. And then there’s this birria sauce. And I thought, “Okay, this is kind of like a French dip.” And I bit into it and I was like, “What the heck?” \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i> This thing was just so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I’ve always loved a beef au jus, and it’s just that juicy dipping sauce, and it’s amazing. But I started with the guacamole. Absolutely delicious. It came in like, you know, pestle and mortar. It had four giant homemade chips that were just delicious. So you break them up and you eat the guacamole with them. It had cotija cheese on top with sprouts, radishes. They like radishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> They do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And I love radishes, so that was fun for me. It’s a little spice in there and then limes for you to add yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I got these esquites, which is a childhood favorite of mine, which is corn, mayonnaise, cheese, chile. And it was good. It was a nice portion. It was served in the molcajete, which I was like, “Oh! Just like my childhood.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Is that what it’s called? The molcajete?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Yeah. And I loved that. It really did take me back ’cause that’s where I’m from. I’m from Mexico. So it was really nice to walk into this place and see all these icons like Selena and luchadores with me enjoying dinner. And what I loved was that right when I sat down, they gave me chips and salsa, which, oh, my gosh, I asked for some to take home because it was so delicious. And every time that the waiter came by, I was like, “Another one, please, another.” \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I really like the Pacific catch tostada. It’s just so refreshing. It has the shrimp, it has the crab, the pickled onions. They put it on two tostada shells. I’m the guy that will eat it with just one, and when the stuff falls off, it’s like, okay, I can make a second tostada. But then they have the birria tostadas. It’s that beef. I just love the taste of the beef, and it’s a great tostada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Another thing that I ordered was the carne con su jugo, which was this unique, delicious dish which had pieces of beef, pinto beans on the side, and then it had the radishes, the limes, and there was bacon, and it gave you three cheese enchiladas on the side, which you sort of scooped up. Oh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> That’s a big plate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> It was a big plate, and it was so unusual and delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I started off with the veggie poblano tacos, which had poblano, corn, mushrooms on two corn tortillas, and I wanted more flavor from them. As a vegetarian, sometimes you just want that flavor that a meat plate would have as well. But I did love the presentation and the rest of the food was definitely true to my culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> What else did you try?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the taquitos de papa, and those came with about four taquitos. And that was delicious. Again, the duality of the crispiness of the tortilla with the mashed potatoes inside was really nice. With the salsa. The salsa. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> Talk about the salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> The drink menu is amazing. There are so many different drinks. They had a non-alcoholic michelada. It has all that spicy shrimp on there. It has the tamarind stick. That drink was a meal in itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I started with the mango margarita, and there was a tajin rim on it that had a flower. It was just beautiful. Very beautiful presentation. I didn’t feel like I was having lunch. I felt like I was having dinner or a cocktail at a nightclub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Taking a little virtual vacation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the aguas frescas which are longtime favorite of mine because they blend lots of flavors. I had the pineapple mango, which, Piña — I love piña.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Do you ever get dessert?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll tell you, for the first time I ordered the churros. They came out with ice cream on it and some chocolate drizzle on there. Usually I’m too full to order dessert, but I did this because I had my niece and my nephew there. It was very good. I mean, they killed it. They killed it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> You got one bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I got one bite out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Speaking Spanish]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> The staff was amazing. Everybody there was just so kind and so nice. And I’m a sucker for good service. I love when people are welcoming because it makes me feel like I’m supposed to be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Makes a difference, doesn’t it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> It does. Absolutely does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> If you would like to try Tostadas, it’s located on San Carlos Street in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $35. Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books we all read as kids? Well, that’s pretty much how you order off the menu at Piña’s favorite place. With dozens of ingredients to choose from, there’s no end to the customizable hot pots that diners can dream up. Located in Oakland, it’s Pixiu Mala Hongtang. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Summer Min:\u003c/strong> The name is Pixiu Mala Hongtang comes from the Chinese mythical animals. Pixiu brings wealth and good fortune. Pixiu Mala Hongtang is a make-your-own-bowl-style restaurant. We have two options — soup and stir-fry. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> Both are really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> Hello!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Hi!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Summer Min:\u003c/strong> Our salad bar is really fresh. When customer comes in, they pick the ingredients they want, and then we bring it to our kitchen and we cook it. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> We have about 40 ingredients. So I’m not sure how many combinations that you can make, but it’s a lot. Some people come to the restaurant and then they ask me, “Is it spicy?” Then I say, “If you don’t like spicy, I suggest the mala tang.” You can choose the spicy to level four. For the level four, it makes me sweat. A lot. If customer chooses spice level four, I always keep watching them. Then I bring them like a banana milk. Tanghulu is a Chinese dessert. We have many types of tanghulu. American doesn’t think tomato is a fruit, but in Korea tomato is a fruit with the sugar. So it’s not shocking for us. But please just come to try it because it’s actually really good. I hope everyone tries mala tang. I hope they had fun when they pick the ingredients themselves. Like customer feels more special because the food is only for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, hot pots are a thing. It is so much fun to go to a hot pot restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> My friends and I have a running joke of calling it Soup Palace because it is really the royalty of soup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Yeah. It is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> You get to choose what you want. I’m kind of a picky eater, so having that opportunity to choose everything and know what’s going into it and being cooked so perfectly all into one beautiful pot of soup or stir-fry, it’s amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So with all those ways to customize it, do you tend to stick with one sort of set of ingredients, or do you mix it up? I do mix it up because they definitely have different vegetarian options, but I do definitely go with my all-stars, which are the lotus root, the broccoli, pumpkin slices, cheese rice cakes. I love to garnish it with cilantro. And then where I get adventurous is the spice level because sometimes I’m like, “No, I’m good on spice.” And sometimes I’m like, “Bring it on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Have you done hot pot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I had never done it before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> A hot-pot spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> A hot-pot spot. Never been to a hot-pot spot. And I love customizing, so I was in my element. I had the bok choy, broccoli, spinach, tons of different mushrooms. All these mushrooms I had never even heard of before, and I threw a bunch of those in. And then, because I’m not a vegetarian, I added the bacon. Turned it into a soup, which is called the mala tang, with the clear glass noodles. And I had it sort of medium spicy, which I think I might go down a little bit because it was still very spicy. But it was delicious. Really, really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Okay, and Francis, what about you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Well, I’ll tell you, any place you can construct your own meal I love. And they were very kind and explaining how everything was. I should have listened when they said they charge by the pound because I didn’t even think about it, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Two pounds later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> So I came there with a friend, and her and I just pretty much just put everything in there. On the stir-fry, In terms of the proteins, I put the shrimp. They even had the imitation crab. I love an imitation crab, I’ll admit that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I do too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll admit that. And I added beef. I love a glass noodle. I added the ramen, and I actually added the udon too as well. We sat down and when the food came out, this enormous bowl came out and I was like, “Oh, my God, this will feed a family of four or five.” The spicy level — I used to love to cry when I eat, okay? This, at the medium, it was spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yeah. It’s spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> How many times did it take you to figure out not to overload it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Oh, well, that’s another thing that my friends and I always do. “How much did you spend? How much did you spend?” And whoever gets the lowest, you know, has to buy a round of drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Cute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> But that’s what I love the most about this place, is that I’ve had friends go and spend $8 and get a good amount of soup. So the range of prices and the flexibility is so necessary for people living in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And it’s so healthy. You can add so many vegetables in there. And then the savory broth that they add to the soup is just so delicious. We also had the gyoza as a side. They were so crispy, deep-fried with a beautiful soy sauce. I will definitely be going back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Oh, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> What about drinks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> So for drinks they have soju. And it’s really cute because they have the soju mascot everywhere. It’s a little frog/ But they also have this very interesting drink called Sac Sac, which is orange juice pulp as a drink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Is it very thick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s a bit thick, yeah. But it’s just very refreshing. And you have many different options for dessert. The tanghulu is viral sensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> It’s beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s candied fruit on a stick. And the crunch you get when you bite into that, and then the juice that comes out from the fruit is…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I can’t describe how delicious it was. I have not stopped thinking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Those blueberries popped in my mouth. And the sugar wasn’t as sweet as I thought. It’s a hard shell, but it breaks nicely in there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I had grapes and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I love the grapes one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Were just so delicious. And the gentleman there was saying that they make it every few hours fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> That dessert, it’s picture-perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> It’s like artwork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Yeah. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Edible art. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, speaking of art, I have to have you tell us, Piña, about your shoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I call these shoes my “chee-toes” ’cause there’s cheese and there’s toes. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> One of my favorite memories is I took a bunch of friends for Halloween, and that was so much fun, and I wore these shoes. A little homage to one of my favorite memories there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, if you would like to try Pixiu Mala Hongtang, it’s located on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30. And now reporter Cecilia Phillips heads to Alameda for some peculiar sights and gothic bites. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia: The Menagerie Oddities Market, it’s a place for people to come together in all things odd. We like to call it an ODDventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> You want to play air hockey?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Today we’re celebrating World Goth Day, and we’re on the USS Hornet in Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Why the USS Hornet? This spot has some history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> It’s supposed to be haunted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> What is goth?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth was born out of the post-punk era. We bond over music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Whoo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> We bond over fashion, art, and community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> 30 altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Everything here is handmade by goth artists. You’ll find taxidermy, skulls, tarot readers. So everything that you want to find that’s goth, you can find it here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> And goth food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Bechkoff:\u003c/strong> In a coffin? Okay. I sell coffee in a coffin and I donate to bat conservation. So because, you know, bats are a keystone species and they’re being threatened right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Hi, ladies. I’m Big Top Sweet Shop, and I do hand-painted, responsibly sourced chocolates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> I heard you both have a collaboration today, though. Are you working together?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Coffee and chocolate are a natural thing to go together. And so I do have an anatomically correct heart. And I actually use that all the time. It’s one of my regular shapes, ’cause creepy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> All right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Cheers, everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Oh, my gosh. It, like, exploded with coffee inside. It’s, like, liquidy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Surprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> It’s an amazing collaboration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> There you go, my love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s the raven’s eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> What goes into it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Vodka, some Malibu rum, blue curacao, also raspberry liqueur. And then there’s a gummy eyeball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Mm!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s the raven. \u003cem>[Woman laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong> We’re Phileas Fogg’s Fabulous Confections. For the goth event we did goth black donuts and we did a black ice cream with a red sauce on top of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Well, I’m going to try this. I’ve seen that this is going to make my teeth gothified. All right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong> Here we go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Is it goth?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong>Oh, absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Is there any foods that you would love to see get the goth treatment?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> I love tacos, so I would like to see a black taco. All-black taco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I’d love to see a squid-ink bread used within a pizza. Therefore dark pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> A multitude of, like, grays and blacks, frozen yogurt, all different flavors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> I need black cake to go with my black ice cream and my black icing. And I want the cake to be red velvet on the inside so it looks like it’s bleeding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> Would people want to eat a bowl of black cereal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> 50 shades of black. Woman #2: 50 shades of black.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> You would call them…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Fruit Loops, maybe?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> Sad Loops, I guess? Or \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> You’d be surprised who is a closet goth. We have moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, teachers, lawyers, doctors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Goth is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Alive or dead. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> I have to thank my terrific guests on this week’s show. Frances Francis Penrose, who always says sí to the birria tacos at Tostadas in San Jose. Piña Bleep, who likes to mix it up at Pixiu Mala Hongtang in Oakland. And Sonya Holcombe, whose happy place is The Hideout Kitchen and Café in Lafayette. Join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Together:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Whoo! Awesome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Cheers. So fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I like things shaped obscure. Freaky things like bats. Hearts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Gothified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Gothify it, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Mozzeria not only supports the deaf community, but they also have fantastic pizzas. They specialize in wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas that you can get right off the truck. Sign language. and Neapolitan pizza is their language of love. Look at this. So you eat everything?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Yeah. My creature. Dead or alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Oh, my God.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: The Hideout Kitchen, Tostadas, Pixiu Mala Hongtang | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 9, airs Thursday, November 7, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Our culinary exploration begins in Lafayette at \u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong>, where diners enjoy elevated comfort food in a cozy, hidden gem of a restaurant, featuring dishes like mascarpone toast and honey fried chicken. Next, the journey takes us to San Jose at \u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong>, a lively spot known for its creative and colorful Mexican fare, with standout dishes like tostadas de birria and birria bacon cheeseburgers. Then, it’s off to Oakland at \u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong>, where the bold, numbing spices of Sichuan cuisine are showcased in fiery hot pots, offering a customizable dining experience featuring dozens of different ingredients. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips visits \u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> onboard the USS Hornet in Alameda for the World Goth Day Festival, where she explores a quirky market filled with curious and unusual finds, from taxidermy to artisanal food creations that delight and surprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_23279\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-23279\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/10/CPBA_1909_Guests.png 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Francis Penrose, Sonya Holcombe and Piña Bleep from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hideoutkitchen.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong> (Lafayette)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://tostadassj.com/\">\u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://pixiufnc.com/layout/eng/home.php?go=main\">\u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://themenagerieodditiesmarket.com/\">\u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> (Alameda)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_20123\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-20123\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2019/04/Leslie-Headshot-Smokey-copy-800x540.jpg\" alt=\"Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine\" width=\"800\" height=\"540\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco sipping wine \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Leslie Sbrocco)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My name is Leslie Sbrocco, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"http://ww2.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">host\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. Each week, I’ll share my tasting notes about the wine, beer and spirits the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-23312\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-800x1008.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1008\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-800x1008.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1020x1285.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-160x202.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-768x968.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1219x1536.jpg 1219w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1625x2048.jpg 1625w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-1920x2419.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/11/1909_Wines-scaled.jpg 2032w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.adamiprosecco.it/en/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Adami 2022 “Vigneto Giardino” Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Rive di Colbertaldo\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy $30\u003cbr>\n\u003c/em>A stunning sparkler from the highest-quality tier of Prosecco Superiore. Adami has been producing noted Prosecco in northern Italy for more than 90 years. This is the winery’s historic flagship bottling due to its lineage. It hails from a single-vineyard cru from vines nearly a century old. The wine is stylish and crisp, with inviting citrus aromas and nutty intensity. With a price tag of only $30, it is a wine worth twice the price and one to seek out when looking for the best in bubbly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://dollywines.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Dolly 2023 Chardonnay\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>California $15\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nVivacious singer Dolly Parton is in the wine game now, bringing her joyful personality to bottlings from still to sparkling. The brand’s goal is to bring friends and family together with well-priced, easy-drinking wines. The deliciously fruit-forward Dolly Chardonnay is a white with a kiss of oaky spiciness and a touch of vibrancy. On the website, they describe the hue of the white as “reminiscent of a morning sun in the Smoky Mountains.” Sounds like a song to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://farniente.com/wineries/post-and-beam\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Post & Beam 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Napa Valley, California $55\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nAs part of the Far Niente family of wines, Post & Beam takes its inspiration from the historic barns at Nickel & Nickel Winery in Napa Valley. This luscious Cabernet Sauvignon includes a touch of Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, adding complexity and depth. Dark fruit notes and a hint of cocoa come through on the nose, with a mouthfeel that is rich and elegant. If you want a classically styled Napa Cabernet Sauvignon without a huge price tag, this beauty is the answer.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Episode Transcript\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> A honey of a fried chicken in Lafayette…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> And I thought, “Bingo, right there.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> …mouthwatering Mexican birria in San Jose…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Bring it on. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> …and a build-your-own hot-pot spot in Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I have not stopped thinking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Just ahead on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” It’s all about the salsa!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa! \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Yeah. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i> Hi, I’m Leslie Sbrocco. Welcome to “Check, Please! Bay Area,” the show where Bay Area residents review and talk about their favorite restaurants. We have three guests, and each one recommends one of their favorite spots, and the other two go check them out to see what they think. Joining me at the “Check, Please!” table today — VP of sales Francis Penrose, tattoo artist and karaoke host Piña Bleep, and communications professional Sonya Holcombe. Welcome, everyone. Are you ready for a show?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> So happy to be here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Whenever Sonya gets asked, “Let’s do lunch” by her friends, she knows exactly where to meet up. For more than a decade, she’s found the perfect midday retreat at a warm and welcoming hometown hangout. Located in Lafayette, it’s The Hideout Kitchen and Café.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit\u003c/strong>: What you drinking? \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> The Hideout Kitchen is a place that feels familiar. It’s comfortable when you walk in, whether it be the first time or your 100th time, you’ll find some familiarity with the people the hospitality and the food,\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> The texture, the pesto.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> So good. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit:\u003c/strong> Our menu is a reflection of my culinary upbringing. There’s a lot of influence of my childhood. Spanish Filipino-style cooking. Lots of stewing, lots of braising, lots of grilling. And a lot of seafood. But it’s also a reflection of my career in the Bay Area as a chef for the last 15 years. I found my lane. And I would call it California comfort food. When we first opened, I really needed a signature dish, which was our waffle sandwich. Two waffles with a country-fried steak, some cheese, an over-easy egg, country gravy… Wish I could tell you what is in all this, but I won’t. …and some powdered sugar and a nugget of butter. All right, brother, And we ask you to eat it with a little bit of syrup and Tabasco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> It’s good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>JB Balingit:\u003c/strong> I’m having fun with some of our seasonal items, like our pork chop is delicious right now. The tuna melt panini you can’t go wrong with, Our porchetta on polenta is one of my favorites. You know, people talk about the vibe a lot when they come into our restaurants, and I love music, it’s my first love. And I love a lot of independent artists, I love a lot of mainstream R&B. And so the energy in the music plays a big part of the overall vibe. Thank you, brother. I hope that when you dine here, you feel the sense of community, because California comfort food encompasses so many different cultures. And no matter what culture you belong to or what ethnicity you belong to, you’ll find something that feels like home to you here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So you’ve been going to this place, Sonya, for over a decade.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> And the reason why is…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> So one of the things that originally brought me into the restaurant was that I heard that the owner was from the Philippines, and although not a Filipino restaurant, my mom’s from the Philippines, so I was intrigued by that. And then the mixture of that with the ambiance, the atmosphere of it being just this elevated comfort-food vibe, it was just a home run for me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, so what do you start with?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> My favorite starter is the kale and pancetta salad. When it comes out, it has this fluffy, billowy pile of parmesan on top, crispy chickpeas, and it has apples and apricots that give it that sweet balance. And fresh kale, broccoli.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Is it a big salad or is it small?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> it’s very big, so you can definitely share it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I loved the mascarpone toast, and the French bread was toasted really nicely, so it was a nice texture of crunchy bread and buttery mascarpone with some almonds and the truffle honey. Just so many flavors that were really nice. And textures. I’m a big textures person. I love my textures. So having that balance of both, absolutely delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’m the type of guy that goes straight for the entrée. So I didn’t even go for an appetizer. So I went straight to the honey fried chicken. And in fact the plating was very nice. That kale, I was a little hesitant because I’m not a kale person, right? I always think it’s going to be bitter or something like that, but it was braised. I could have eaten a whole plate of it. Seriously, I could have eaten a whole plate of that side.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> You are a kale believer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I am. Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> “Kale” yeah!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Smashed potatoes were cold. I was just a little surprised at that. Right? But then I cut into that chicken, just hearing the crisp, it was like, okay, here comes the test. I took a bite. The umami flavor of the truffle honey was really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I agree with everything you just said, other than the fact that the smashed potatoes were cold. That’s too bad, but they’re amazing. But the chicken, it’s just that, like, salty, but with the sweet, totally moist. I’ve had it dozens of times and it’s never been a disappointment. It’s always delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> The sweet potato fries are home run. I am not a big sweet potato fry person. I prefer the traditional potatoes. And we actually got both. The crunch on those sweet potato fries were just so perfect. And then inside it’s like this creamy potato. They’re really, really delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the baked rigatoni and cheese, which I love cheese. Yeah, it was really good. It was definitely a very homey mac and cheese. And then that crispy breadcrumb on top was just a nice touch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And they say “Spanish spices” in the menu. And it’s like adult mac and cheese.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> And what about something to drink alongside your meal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I usually have a glass of wine. They have a really nice wine list.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I had an Arnold Palmer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Oh, nice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I take a sip of it and immediately I said, “Why is this Arnold Palmer so good?” \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> Then he laughed. He says, “Because we make our own lemonade.” And I thought, “Bingo, right there.” So I took a second sip, and of course I finished it on the second sip.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Did you have anything else?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> You know, I did, Leslie. I ordered the dessert. And when he mentioned to me that there was a pear tart, I was in the mood for fruit. So I thought, “This will be perfect.” So when they brought it out, I was surprised ’cause it was a few pears on a puff pastry with a few black figs on there. I’m not a fig person, okay?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Ah. Okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> But it had ice cream on there, it was warm, and it was good. Actually, I want to mention that I went back the following week, and I will go back again because I love their menu, and it makes me want to try more of the stuff, especially the rigatoni that you talked about.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, did you feel like you got good value?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I think that the prices were quite fair. I loved all the staff there because when I asked for my check, I went like this, and my partner was like, “That might not be very appropriate.” And so I was like, “Is that appropriate?” I asked.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yeah, that’s cute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> And then we were all laughing about it. I did feel like it was more upscale, so I wouldn’t necessarily, personally, go for lunch. But if I’m balling on a budget, I will. And if I’m in Lafayette, maybe so.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, go with Francis and he’ll pay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll take care of you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Okay, let’s go. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I’m so happy you guys liked it and enjoyed it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> That’s great. Well, if you would like to try The Hideout Kitchen and Café, it’s located on Lafayette Circle in Lafayette, and the average lunch tab per person without drinks is around $45. Francis’s job takes him south of the border nearly every other week. On all those travels, he’s developed an appreciation for the regional cuisine of Tijuana and Guadalajara. In between trips, when he’s hoping to satisfy those cravings, there’s just one spot he thinks is up to the task. Located in San Jose’s Midtown, it’s Tostadas. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Grab it, grab it. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Tostadas is always a party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> Everybody says it’s a vibe because people come and enjoy the moment they walk in.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Speaking Spanish]\u003c/em> We started our restaurant in 2019, me and Alex, the two brothers. They call us the Tostadas Brothers. And Carla is amazing. She helps us with our Midtown location.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> So we’re family here. We want you to feel like a family.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> There we go. We decided that you could do a lot with tostadas, from breakfast and lunch to dinner. We do different colors, from a blue corn to a red tostada that’s made out of tomato. We always do double tostada to get the nice crunch. One reason Tostadas got known for is we break the rules toward traditional Mexican food. We try to innovate with our flavors, like our bacon birria burger. You must try it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> Is that a pizza?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> We do have our birria pizzadilla. It’s a quesadilla, but it has birria and it’s formed like a pizza, so it’s really, really good. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> My mom’s name is Maria. She comes by sometimes and makes sure everything’s tasting the same. We know that we’re doing the right thing when she comes and enjoys everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Every cocktail that we created, it’s only created at Tostadas. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> We have a drink called mega cantaro, which is more for big parties. They have a whole bottle of tequila. People enjoy seeing the big bottles going into the cantaro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> Shot on the house.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Holy moly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> We always say each guest is a family for us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Child:\u003c/strong> It looks good already, but it’s hot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Carla Garcia:\u003c/strong> I just want everybody to leave happy from here and just make everybody feel welcome.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So, Francis, you spend a lot of time in Mexico. What is it about Tostadas that makes it so similar to your experiences in Mexico?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> The way the food looks, the presentation. And they have such a wide menu. I mean, I’ve had friends order the octopus. It’s beautiful when it comes out. To me, that reminds me clearly of when I go to Guadalajara\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> There’s such beautiful food around Guadalajara.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Oh, Guadalajara is wonderful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Unbelievable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> So I did not know what birria tacos were when I first got in there. So it was a beautiful plate. Three tacos. I could see the beef just oozing out and the cheese, the way they sprinkled the onions and the cilantro on it. And then there’s this birria sauce. And I thought, “Okay, this is kind of like a French dip.” And I bit into it and I was like, “What the heck?” \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i> This thing was just so good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I’ve always loved a beef au jus, and it’s just that juicy dipping sauce, and it’s amazing. But I started with the guacamole. Absolutely delicious. It came in like, you know, pestle and mortar. It had four giant homemade chips that were just delicious. So you break them up and you eat the guacamole with them. It had cotija cheese on top with sprouts, radishes. They like radishes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> They do.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And I love radishes, so that was fun for me. It’s a little spice in there and then limes for you to add yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I got these esquites, which is a childhood favorite of mine, which is corn, mayonnaise, cheese, chile. And it was good. It was a nice portion. It was served in the molcajete, which I was like, “Oh! Just like my childhood.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Is that what it’s called? The molcajete?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Yeah. And I loved that. It really did take me back ’cause that’s where I’m from. I’m from Mexico. So it was really nice to walk into this place and see all these icons like Selena and luchadores with me enjoying dinner. And what I loved was that right when I sat down, they gave me chips and salsa, which, oh, my gosh, I asked for some to take home because it was so delicious. And every time that the waiter came by, I was like, “Another one, please, another.” \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I really like the Pacific catch tostada. It’s just so refreshing. It has the shrimp, it has the crab, the pickled onions. They put it on two tostada shells. I’m the guy that will eat it with just one, and when the stuff falls off, it’s like, okay, I can make a second tostada. But then they have the birria tostadas. It’s that beef. I just love the taste of the beef, and it’s a great tostada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Another thing that I ordered was the carne con su jugo, which was this unique, delicious dish which had pieces of beef, pinto beans on the side, and then it had the radishes, the limes, and there was bacon, and it gave you three cheese enchiladas on the side, which you sort of scooped up. Oh!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> That’s a big plate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> It was a big plate, and it was so unusual and delicious.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I started off with the veggie poblano tacos, which had poblano, corn, mushrooms on two corn tortillas, and I wanted more flavor from them. As a vegetarian, sometimes you just want that flavor that a meat plate would have as well. But I did love the presentation and the rest of the food was definitely true to my culture.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> What else did you try?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the taquitos de papa, and those came with about four taquitos. And that was delicious. Again, the duality of the crispiness of the tortilla with the mashed potatoes inside was really nice. With the salsa. The salsa. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> Talk about the salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s all about the salsa.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> The drink menu is amazing. There are so many different drinks. They had a non-alcoholic michelada. It has all that spicy shrimp on there. It has the tamarind stick. That drink was a meal in itself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I started with the mango margarita, and there was a tajin rim on it that had a flower. It was just beautiful. Very beautiful presentation. I didn’t feel like I was having lunch. I felt like I was having dinner or a cocktail at a nightclub.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Taking a little virtual vacation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Exactly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I had the aguas frescas which are longtime favorite of mine because they blend lots of flavors. I had the pineapple mango, which, Piña — I love piña.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Do you ever get dessert?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll tell you, for the first time I ordered the churros. They came out with ice cream on it and some chocolate drizzle on there. Usually I’m too full to order dessert, but I did this because I had my niece and my nephew there. It was very good. I mean, they killed it. They killed it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> You got one bite.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I got one bite out of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Victor Garcia:\u003c/strong> \u003cem>[Speaking Spanish]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> The staff was amazing. Everybody there was just so kind and so nice. And I’m a sucker for good service. I love when people are welcoming because it makes me feel like I’m supposed to be there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Makes a difference, doesn’t it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> It does. Absolutely does.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> If you would like to try Tostadas, it’s located on San Carlos Street in San Jose, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $35. Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books we all read as kids? Well, that’s pretty much how you order off the menu at Piña’s favorite place. With dozens of ingredients to choose from, there’s no end to the customizable hot pots that diners can dream up. Located in Oakland, it’s Pixiu Mala Hongtang. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Summer Min:\u003c/strong> The name is Pixiu Mala Hongtang comes from the Chinese mythical animals. Pixiu brings wealth and good fortune. Pixiu Mala Hongtang is a make-your-own-bowl-style restaurant. We have two options — soup and stir-fry. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> Both are really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #1:\u003c/strong> Hello!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> Hi!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Summer Min:\u003c/strong> Our salad bar is really fresh. When customer comes in, they pick the ingredients they want, and then we bring it to our kitchen and we cook it. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em> We have about 40 ingredients. So I’m not sure how many combinations that you can make, but it’s a lot. Some people come to the restaurant and then they ask me, “Is it spicy?” Then I say, “If you don’t like spicy, I suggest the mala tang.” You can choose the spicy to level four. For the level four, it makes me sweat. A lot. If customer chooses spice level four, I always keep watching them. Then I bring them like a banana milk. Tanghulu is a Chinese dessert. We have many types of tanghulu. American doesn’t think tomato is a fruit, but in Korea tomato is a fruit with the sugar. So it’s not shocking for us. But please just come to try it because it’s actually really good. I hope everyone tries mala tang. I hope they had fun when they pick the ingredients themselves. Like customer feels more special because the food is only for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, hot pots are a thing. It is so much fun to go to a hot pot restaurant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> My friends and I have a running joke of calling it Soup Palace because it is really the royalty of soup.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Yeah. It is.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> You get to choose what you want. I’m kind of a picky eater, so having that opportunity to choose everything and know what’s going into it and being cooked so perfectly all into one beautiful pot of soup or stir-fry, it’s amazing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> So with all those ways to customize it, do you tend to stick with one sort of set of ingredients, or do you mix it up? I do mix it up because they definitely have different vegetarian options, but I do definitely go with my all-stars, which are the lotus root, the broccoli, pumpkin slices, cheese rice cakes. I love to garnish it with cilantro. And then where I get adventurous is the spice level because sometimes I’m like, “No, I’m good on spice.” And sometimes I’m like, “Bring it on.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Have you done hot pot?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I had never done it before.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> A hot-pot spot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> A hot-pot spot. Never been to a hot-pot spot. And I love customizing, so I was in my element. I had the bok choy, broccoli, spinach, tons of different mushrooms. All these mushrooms I had never even heard of before, and I threw a bunch of those in. And then, because I’m not a vegetarian, I added the bacon. Turned it into a soup, which is called the mala tang, with the clear glass noodles. And I had it sort of medium spicy, which I think I might go down a little bit because it was still very spicy. But it was delicious. Really, really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Okay, and Francis, what about you?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Well, I’ll tell you, any place you can construct your own meal I love. And they were very kind and explaining how everything was. I should have listened when they said they charge by the pound because I didn’t even think about it, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Two pounds later.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> So I came there with a friend, and her and I just pretty much just put everything in there. On the stir-fry, In terms of the proteins, I put the shrimp. They even had the imitation crab. I love an imitation crab, I’ll admit that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I do too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> I’ll admit that. And I added beef. I love a glass noodle. I added the ramen, and I actually added the udon too as well. We sat down and when the food came out, this enormous bowl came out and I was like, “Oh, my God, this will feed a family of four or five.” The spicy level — I used to love to cry when I eat, okay? This, at the medium, it was spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Yeah. It’s spicy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> How many times did it take you to figure out not to overload it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Oh, well, that’s another thing that my friends and I always do. “How much did you spend? How much did you spend?” And whoever gets the lowest, you know, has to buy a round of drinks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Cute.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> But that’s what I love the most about this place, is that I’ve had friends go and spend $8 and get a good amount of soup. So the range of prices and the flexibility is so necessary for people living in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> And it’s so healthy. You can add so many vegetables in there. And then the savory broth that they add to the soup is just so delicious. We also had the gyoza as a side. They were so crispy, deep-fried with a beautiful soy sauce. I will definitely be going back.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Oh, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> What about drinks?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> So for drinks they have soju. And it’s really cute because they have the soju mascot everywhere. It’s a little frog/ But they also have this very interesting drink called Sac Sac, which is orange juice pulp as a drink.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Is it very thick?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s a bit thick, yeah. But it’s just very refreshing. And you have many different options for dessert. The tanghulu is viral sensation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> It’s beautiful.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> It’s candied fruit on a stick. And the crunch you get when you bite into that, and then the juice that comes out from the fruit is…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I can’t describe how delicious it was. I have not stopped thinking about it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Those blueberries popped in my mouth. And the sugar wasn’t as sweet as I thought. It’s a hard shell, but it breaks nicely in there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> I had grapes and strawberries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I love the grapes one.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Were just so delicious. And the gentleman there was saying that they make it every few hours fresh.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> That dessert, it’s picture-perfect.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> It’s like artwork.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Francis Penrose:\u003c/b> Yeah. Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> Edible art. \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Well, speaking of art, I have to have you tell us, Piña, about your shoes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Piña Bleep:\u003c/b> I call these shoes my “chee-toes” ’cause there’s cheese and there’s toes. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em> One of my favorite memories is I took a bunch of friends for Halloween, and that was so much fun, and I wore these shoes. A little homage to one of my favorite memories there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> All right, if you would like to try Pixiu Mala Hongtang, it’s located on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, and the average tab per person without drinks is around $30. And now reporter Cecilia Phillips heads to Alameda for some peculiar sights and gothic bites. \u003cem>[music playing]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Garcia: The Menagerie Oddities Market, it’s a place for people to come together in all things odd. We like to call it an ODDventure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> You want to play air hockey?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Today we’re celebrating World Goth Day, and we’re on the USS Hornet in Alameda.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Why the USS Hornet? This spot has some history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> It’s supposed to be haunted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> What is goth?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth was born out of the post-punk era. We bond over music.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Whoo!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> We bond over fashion, art, and community.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> 30 altogether.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Everything here is handmade by goth artists. You’ll find taxidermy, skulls, tarot readers. So everything that you want to find that’s goth, you can find it here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> And goth food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth food.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jennifer Bechkoff:\u003c/strong> In a coffin? Okay. I sell coffee in a coffin and I donate to bat conservation. So because, you know, bats are a keystone species and they’re being threatened right now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Hi, ladies. I’m Big Top Sweet Shop, and I do hand-painted, responsibly sourced chocolates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> I heard you both have a collaboration today, though. Are you working together?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Coffee and chocolate are a natural thing to go together. And so I do have an anatomically correct heart. And I actually use that all the time. It’s one of my regular shapes, ’cause creepy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> All right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Cheers, everybody.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Oh, my gosh. It, like, exploded with coffee inside. It’s, like, liquidy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Larisa Chapman:\u003c/strong> Surprise.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> It’s an amazing collaboration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> There you go, my love.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s the raven’s eye.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> What goes into it?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Vodka, some Malibu rum, blue curacao, also raspberry liqueur. And then there’s a gummy eyeball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Mm!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> That’s the raven. \u003cem>[Woman laughs]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong> We’re Phileas Fogg’s Fabulous Confections. For the goth event we did goth black donuts and we did a black ice cream with a red sauce on top of it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Well, I’m going to try this. I’ve seen that this is going to make my teeth gothified. All right.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong> Here we go.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Is it goth?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mac Senour:\u003c/strong>Oh, absolutely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> Yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Is there any foods that you would love to see get the goth treatment?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> I love tacos, so I would like to see a black taco. All-black taco.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I’d love to see a squid-ink bread used within a pizza. Therefore dark pizza.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman:\u003c/strong> A multitude of, like, grays and blacks, frozen yogurt, all different flavors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #2:\u003c/strong> I need black cake to go with my black ice cream and my black icing. And I want the cake to be red velvet on the inside so it looks like it’s bleeding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> Would people want to eat a bowl of black cereal?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> 50 shades of black. Woman #2: 50 shades of black.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> You would call them…\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Fruit Loops, maybe?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Woman #3:\u003c/strong> Sad Loops, I guess? Or \u003ci>[Laughs]\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> You’d be surprised who is a closet goth. We have moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, teachers, lawyers, doctors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Goth is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Connstance Garcia:\u003c/strong> Goth is for everyone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Alive or dead. \u003cem>[Laughter]\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> I have to thank my terrific guests on this week’s show. Frances Francis Penrose, who always says sí to the birria tacos at Tostadas in San Jose. Piña Bleep, who likes to mix it up at Pixiu Mala Hongtang in Oakland. And Sonya Holcombe, whose happy place is The Hideout Kitchen and Café in Lafayette. Join us next time when three more guests will recommend their favorite spots right here on “Check, Please! Bay Area.” I’m Leslie Sbrocco, and I’ll see you then. Cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Together:\u003c/strong> Cheers!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Leslie Sbrocco:\u003c/b> Whoo! Awesome!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Sonya Holcombe:\u003c/b> Cheers. So fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> I like things shaped obscure. Freaky things like bats. Hearts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Gothified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Gothify it, yeah.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Cecilia Phillips:\u003c/b> Mozzeria not only supports the deaf community, but they also have fantastic pizzas. They specialize in wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizzas that you can get right off the truck. Sign language. and Neapolitan pizza is their language of love. Look at this. So you eat everything?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Man:\u003c/strong> Yeah. My creature. Dead or alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Ready to discover some new Bay Area flavors? \u003cstrong>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/strong> is back in November with handpicked recommendations for local restaurants you won’t want to miss! On each episode of this James Beard and Emmy Award-winning series, three locals sit down with host Leslie Sbrocco to rave about their favorite neighborhood eats. After checking out each other’s spots, they join Sbrocco to discuss, debate and dish on their dining experiences. From 12-hour lamb shoulder tandoor in San Francisco to rich, bold flavors of Central Asian dishes in San Jose, we’ve scoured the Bay for the best bites and standout spots so you don’t have to! Join us for four new episodes, \u003cstrong>Thursdays beginning November 7 at 7:30pm on KQED 9\u003c/strong>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"315\" height=\"560\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzfYQlwmeDo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 7\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• A hidden gem featuring elevated comfort food like mascarpone toast and honey fried chicken at \u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong> (Lafayette)\u003cbr>\n• Creative and colorful Mexican fare, featuring tostadas de birria and birria bacon cheeseburgers at \u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• Fiery hot pots with numbing Sichuan spices and customizable ingredients at \u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” explores Goth-themed treats from specialty donuts to artisanal chocolates onboard the USS Hornet at \u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> (Alameda)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 14\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• A vibrant and warm spot serving açaí bowls and other Brazilian favorites at \u003cstrong>World Green Açaí Bowl & Juice\u003c/strong> (Larkspur)\u003cbr>\n• Contemporary Mediterranean flavors like 12-hour lamb shoulder tandoor and wild pistachio coffee at \u003cstrong>Dalida\u003c/strong> (San Francisco)\u003cbr>\n• Delicious Mexican favorites like platos de carne and tacos de pescado from the family-owned \u003cstrong>Villa Corona\u003c/strong> (Napa)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 21\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• Thin-crust, crispy-edged pizzas since 1968 from a beloved local institution at \u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• Comforting breakfast and lunch classics like chicken fried steak and sweet cream pancakes at \u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> (El Sobrante)\u003cbr>\n• Fresh, sustainably sourced seafood with breathtaking views of Tomales Bay at \u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” explores the journey of oysters from ocean to table at \u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 28\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• Traditional Indian flavors with innovative techniques like paneer chili rolls and jackfruit toast at \u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong> (Palo Alto)\u003cbr>\n• Juicy, creatively topped burgers, fried mac and cheese and other season American comforts served al fresco at \u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> (Half Moon Bay)\u003cbr>\n• Boldly flavored Central Asian dishes like hand-pulled noodles and big plate chicken at \u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” samples gourmet eats from local Sonoma bites to globally inspired street food at the \u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> (Rohnert Park)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is your favorite restaurant missing from the lineup? There’s still time to shout out your go-to spot! We’re on the lookout for our next round of guests, and we want to hear from you. Nominate your can’t-miss picks and apply to be a guest now at \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/checkplease/apply\">kqed.org/checkplease/apply\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Ready to discover some new Bay Area flavors? \u003cstrong>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/strong> is back in November with handpicked recommendations for local restaurants you won’t want to miss! On each episode of this James Beard and Emmy Award-winning series, three locals sit down with host Leslie Sbrocco to rave about their favorite neighborhood eats. After checking out each other’s spots, they join Sbrocco to discuss, debate and dish on their dining experiences. From 12-hour lamb shoulder tandoor in San Francisco to rich, bold flavors of Central Asian dishes in San Jose, we’ve scoured the Bay for the best bites and standout spots so you don’t have to! Join us for four new episodes, \u003cstrong>Thursdays beginning November 7 at 7:30pm on KQED 9\u003c/strong>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"315\" height=\"560\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/jzfYQlwmeDo\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 7\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• A hidden gem featuring elevated comfort food like mascarpone toast and honey fried chicken at \u003cstrong>The Hideout Kitchen\u003c/strong> (Lafayette)\u003cbr>\n• Creative and colorful Mexican fare, featuring tostadas de birria and birria bacon cheeseburgers at \u003cstrong>Tostadas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• Fiery hot pots with numbing Sichuan spices and customizable ingredients at \u003cstrong>Pixiu Mala Hongtang\u003c/strong> (Oakland)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” explores Goth-themed treats from specialty donuts to artisanal chocolates onboard the USS Hornet at \u003cstrong>The Menagerie Oddities Market\u003c/strong> (Alameda)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 14\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• A vibrant and warm spot serving açaí bowls and other Brazilian favorites at \u003cstrong>World Green Açaí Bowl & Juice\u003c/strong> (Larkspur)\u003cbr>\n• Contemporary Mediterranean flavors like 12-hour lamb shoulder tandoor and wild pistachio coffee at \u003cstrong>Dalida\u003c/strong> (San Francisco)\u003cbr>\n• Delicious Mexican favorites like platos de carne and tacos de pescado from the family-owned \u003cstrong>Villa Corona\u003c/strong> (Napa)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 21\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• Thin-crust, crispy-edged pizzas since 1968 from a beloved local institution at \u003cstrong>Cicero’s Pizza\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• Comforting breakfast and lunch classics like chicken fried steak and sweet cream pancakes at \u003cstrong>Cafe Soleil\u003c/strong> (El Sobrante)\u003cbr>\n• Fresh, sustainably sourced seafood with breathtaking views of Tomales Bay at \u003cstrong>Tony’s Seafood Restaurant\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” explores the journey of oysters from ocean to table at \u003cstrong>Hog Island Oyster Farm\u003c/strong> (Marshall)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>November 28\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>• Traditional Indian flavors with innovative techniques like paneer chili rolls and jackfruit toast at \u003cstrong>ROOH\u003c/strong> (Palo Alto)\u003cbr>\n• Juicy, creatively topped burgers, fried mac and cheese and other season American comforts served al fresco at \u003cstrong>The Barn\u003c/strong> (Half Moon Bay)\u003cbr>\n• Boldly flavored Central Asian dishes like hand-pulled noodles and big plate chicken at \u003cstrong>Kusan Uyghur Cuisine\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003cbr>\n• “Cecilia Tries It” samples gourmet eats from local Sonoma bites to globally inspired street food at the \u003cstrong>Fork’n Good Food Festival\u003c/strong> (Rohnert Park)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Is your favorite restaurant missing from the lineup? There’s still time to shout out your go-to spot! We’re on the lookout for our next round of guests, and we want to hear from you. Nominate your can’t-miss picks and apply to be a guest now at \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/checkplease/apply\">kqed.org/checkplease/apply\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Orchard City Kitchen, HiroNori Craft Ramen, Las Cazuelas",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 8, airs Wednesday, July 25, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check, Please! Bay Area is scoring big with three guests from \u003ca href=\"https://bayfc.com/\">\u003cstrong>Bay FC\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, the region’s first ever National Women’s Soccer League team! Diners kickoff at Michelin-recognized \u003cstrong>Orchard City Kitchen\u003c/strong> in Campbell, where New American dishes with bold flavors are inspired by a blend of different cultures, like garlic noodles and Korean fried chicken. Next, our guests get the ball rolling at \u003cstrong>HiroNori Craft Ramen\u003c/strong> in Cupertino where they deliver Japanese craft ramen with elaborately-flavored broth and artisan-crafted noodles. Lastly, they visit \u003cstrong>Las Cazuelas\u003c/strong> in San Jose’s historic Alameda District, an old school favorite that’s been offering delicious, affordable Mexican dishes to the community since 1960. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips racks up wins for her taste buds as she heads to Paypal Park to try food truck fare that fans enjoy on Bay FC game days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_22277\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-22277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1920x1280.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Toss Boade, Caprice Dydasco and Danielle Slaton from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://orchardcitykitchen.com\">\u003cstrong>\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"The Butter House (Seaside)\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":9153,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"9\":1,\"10\":1,\"11\":4,\"12\":0,\"16\":9}'>Orchard City Kitchen \u003c/span>\u003c/strong>(Campbell)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hironori.com\">\u003cstrong>HiroNori Craft Ramen\u003c/strong> (Cupertino)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://lascazuelasrestaurants.com\">\u003cstrong>Las Cazuelas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bayfc.com/paypal-park/\">\u003cstrong>Paypal Park Game Day Food Trucks \u003c/strong>(San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22268\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait-160x200.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My name is Josh Decolongon, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jdecolongon\">audience engagement producer\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. For this episode, I’m helping out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography\">host\u003c/a> Leslie Sbrocco with some tasting notes on the wine, beer and spirits the guests and Leslie had on set during the taping of the show!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-22279\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines-800x450.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines-800x450.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines-1020x574.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines-160x90.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Wines.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://digby-fine-english.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Digby NV “Fine English” Brut\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>England $45\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nThis Pinot-driven sparkler from England starts off with plum, red apple, and bits of Rainier cherry that open up to a streak of yeast and minerality. Dry and light-footed but present — not brash, but just enough footing to make its mark. Creamy mousse on the palate opening up to apple skin, almonds and cinnamon. Shows poise and restraint but not shy by any means. Great value!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.aqueria.com/en/vins/tavel/\">\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">\u003cstrong>Château de Aqueria 2021 Tavel\u003c/strong>\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Tavel, Rhône Valley, France $22\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nI’m not a fan of the plethora of rosés that tend to be overly elegant and offer nothing but crisp citrus and red fruit as background extras with no real main character. Tavel is where I head to for a safer gamble when it comes to complexity. This Grenache-based rosé centers around rhubarb and raspberry — something in the middle of ripe and vegetal, like eating berries during a summer hike through a forest. Weightier than one might expect on the palate, with cleansing and acidity and an earthy ending worthy of a charcuterie board or BBQ chicken. A steal for $22. Tip: drink this one closer to room temperature.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://prosper-maufoux.com/en\">\u003cstrong>\u003cspan style=\"color: #339966\">Prosper Maufoux 2020 “Domaine Vigne au Roy” Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits\u003c/span>\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003cbr>\n\u003cem>Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, Côtes de Nuits, Bourgogne, France $30\u003c/em>\u003cbr>\nIt can be really hard to find relatively affordable and characterful Pinot Noir from Burgundy, which can make sense given its temperamental nature. This hits the spot, though, with a combination of ripe strawberries and black cherries along with a hint of cola that, dare I say, almost gives it a hint of California. Dry and lithe, silky and fresh, opening up to an earthy savory quality. I wouldn’t pair this with a steak, but it’s versatile enough for a backyard BBQ.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area, \u003c/em>season 19, episode 8, airs Wednesday, July 25, at 7:30 pm, on KQED 9. See other \u003ca href=\"http://www.kqed.org/tv/programs/index.jsp?pgmid=14084\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">television airtimes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check, Please! Bay Area is scoring big with three guests from \u003ca href=\"https://bayfc.com/\">\u003cstrong>Bay FC\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>, the region’s first ever National Women’s Soccer League team! Diners kickoff at Michelin-recognized \u003cstrong>Orchard City Kitchen\u003c/strong> in Campbell, where New American dishes with bold flavors are inspired by a blend of different cultures, like garlic noodles and Korean fried chicken. Next, our guests get the ball rolling at \u003cstrong>HiroNori Craft Ramen\u003c/strong> in Cupertino where they deliver Japanese craft ramen with elaborately-flavored broth and artisan-crafted noodles. Lastly, they visit \u003cstrong>Las Cazuelas\u003c/strong> in San Jose’s historic Alameda District, an old school favorite that’s been offering delicious, affordable Mexican dishes to the community since 1960. Finally, reporter Cecilia Phillips racks up wins for her taste buds as she heads to Paypal Park to try food truck fare that fans enjoy on Bay FC game days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_22277\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-22277\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-800x533.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-800x533.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1020x680.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-160x107.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-768x512.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1536x1024.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-2048x1365.png 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/1908Guests-1920x1280.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Host Leslie Sbrocco joins guests Toss Boade, Caprice Dydasco and Danielle Slaton from KQED in San Francisco.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Get Restaurant Information:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://orchardcitykitchen.com\">\u003cstrong>\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\" data-sheets-value='{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"The Butter House (Seaside)\"}' data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":9153,\"3\":{\"1\":0},\"9\":1,\"10\":1,\"11\":4,\"12\":0,\"16\":9}'>Orchard City Kitchen \u003c/span>\u003c/strong>(Campbell)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hironori.com\">\u003cstrong>HiroNori Craft Ramen\u003c/strong> (Cupertino)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://lascazuelasrestaurants.com\">\u003cstrong>Las Cazuelas\u003c/strong> (San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://bayfc.com/paypal-park/\">\u003cstrong>Paypal Park Game Day Food Trucks \u003c/strong>(San Jose)\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-22268\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait.jpg 640w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/07/joshdecolongonportrait-160x200.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My name is Josh Decolongon, and I’m the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/jdecolongon\">audience engagement producer\u003c/a> of \u003cem>Check, Please! Bay Area\u003c/em>. For this episode, I’m helping out \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/checkplease/host-biography\">host\u003c/a> Leslie Sbrocco with some tasting notes on the wine, beer and spirits the guests and Leslie had on set during the taping of the show!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"soldout": {
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"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
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