Cali '07

During my May trip to the San Francisco area to visit Veronica, we ate great food and visited several vineyards.

Asia S.F. is a by reservation only restaurant, that seems to cater to a lot of birthdays and bachelorette parties. It's a flat fee of $38 for appetizer, main course, and dessert with drinks extra. With dinner they have Asian transexuals dance up on the bar, so it's dinner and a show. For dinner I had some crab and scallops rolled in something or other, filet mignon and green tea cheesecake with pineapple stuff on top. There were 6 girls up dancing, and holy cow they looked good! There was only maybe 1 that I could have pegged for a guy. Maybe. Really good show, and a lot of fun. They had a club in the basement, and they celebrate specific parties with the girls from upstairs dancing for them. Pretty crowded, but a good time none the less.

While we were at the Santa Cruz boardwalk, I ate garlic fries - which are just COATED with minced garlic and absolutely delicious. Gilroy, CA claims to be the garlic capital of the world. Also had a Heath ice cream cone - it's like a flurry, but obviously on a cone instead. Very tasty!

In wine country we went to a restaurant called Mustards for a snack, and I ended up getting a bbq pork sandwich and fries with their special applesauce tomato ketchup. The ketchup kicked all ass. It was a pretty nice place, and I would go there again for dinner, or anything.

Veronica introduced me to Mochi. Little mini ice creams covered in a rice coating for handling, which you can cut into 4 pieces to eat. Comes in green tea, mango, strawberry and chocolate as far as I saw. Really, really yummy!

I also learned that there are several areas in Cali where there are people who are called "local-vores". These people will only eat food that is sold within 150 mile radius. There's something about Marilyn Monroe and artichokes too, but can't remember.

Syrah/Shirraz grapes originated in Iran.

More wine information coming up.