Reno: Heritage

9/19/2015

Dear Fork,

Are you enjoying our mini road trip together? I'm having a blast! It's a little weekend getaway to Reno, NV for some casino fun and of course, food hunting. Checked in at the Eldorado Reno Hotel. How about we start it off with a weekend brunch?

Inside of the Heritage. Here is our section of the restaurant. 

We stopped by the Heritage at Whitney Peak Hotel. What a nice restaurant, with modern decor, huge with high ceiling. The waiting area is super cute with 2 hammock-like chairs hanging from the ceiling on each sides. 

Waiting area. 

This chair is comfy! Can I be here all day? :p

Another dining area at the Heritage.

Fried Mac & Cheese.

Oh! Their Happy Hour menu is a steal. So many things to choose from with the price ranging from $3-$8. We started off with Fried Mac and Cheese ($5). It features green chile mac and cheese croquette, served on top of charred onion salsa. Nom.

This was my favorite! It was also on the Happy Hour menu, called Everything Bagel Dog. It was simply a hot dog but with an extra love. All-beef frank with cream cheese smear, everything bagel season on a French roll for $5! If I had more space in my tummy, I would love to try everything on this menu...Seriously. LOL

White Trash Croque Monsieur.

What's brunch without egg and cheese? I decided to go with the White Trash Croque Monsieur. What a name! It's a Grilled cheese, filled with egg in the hole, served with chorizo gravy and delicious crispy potatoes. YES! You know how I love 'em crispy.

Fork, thank you for sharing this wonderful weekend getaway together. It was delicious!

Love, 

Spoon.

San Francisco: Craftsman & Wolves

9/16/2015

Dear Fork,

I had a great day today, though, I wish I got to see you more. I went to Craftsman & Wolves since I have not been in for ages. I still love everything about this place, the people, the ambience, and of course their delicious looking pastries.

Beautiful interior.

Speaking of pastries, as you've probably heard from me before, I'm so glad to be in this wonderful city, packed with tasty spots all over within a few minutes walk. Who doesn't like cafe hopping, right? (not to mention, bar hopping is fun too). LOVE IT. 

Chocolate croissant stack

The moment I walked in, approaching the counter, I didn't even look at anything else, but these beautiful goodies in front of me. How can I decide what to get?! Okay, let's do this... how about a couple of things at once! YEEEEEEAH 

Communal table at CAW.

#onthetable #beautiful!

I loved how CAW pays attention to detail on their pastries. It wasn't only that they tasted good, but they are visually attractive! (yes, I mean the pastries LOL.) I got myself a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallow. Litchi Roll features milk chocolate, coffee cream. It's a fancy eclair roll-like but with a twist of the crispy cracker underneath the roll. 

Hot chocolate with marshmallow, so good. I wish the cup was bigger! LOL

The Devil (not so deviled looking, it looks more like HEAVEN)

The Devil was so tasty. You know how much I love chocolate especially when it's rich! The Devil chocolate cake is filled with chocolate ganache and toffee. The three texture combined makes it the best!

The Rebel Within

Here comes the best of the best, a must-try at CAW, The Rebel Within. What is that? It's a breakfast muffin, filled with soft boiled egg. It's just perfect. It has asiago, sausage, green onion. SO GOOD! #bestoftheday

My morning was completely fulfilled with deliciousness.

Thank you for coming with me and help me experience my food life. 

Love,

Spoon

San Francisco: Mr. Holmes Bakehouse

9/13/2015

Dear Fork,

Do you know how early I have to wake up for this?! Gosh. The hype is real. After I failed my first attempt getting my cruffins from Mr. Holmes Bakehouse (1042 Larkin St. San Francisco, CA 94109), now I finally know the drill and got them! muahaha *devil laugh* I think it's good to share that with you. :)

So, they open at 7AM on weekdays and 8AM on weekends... *BUT* their lusciously unique cruffins only start to come out at 9AM onwards. You wouldn't get any if you go when they open, like what I did the first time. I even asked them shamelessly at 7AM, "Are you ran out of the cruffin?"... haha!! I sadly left thinking "I got there too early and did not want to wait". I've learned that 'no pain NO GAIN' is true. LOL

Anyway, let's talk about the cruffin. My computer doesn't even register the word cruffin and keeps autocorrecting it to 'curfew', but it's real and now the IT thing! CROISSANT + MUFFIN = CRUFFIN is the equation is to Mr. Holmes' famous pastry. They come out with different Cruffin and donut flavor everyday. Check @mrholmesbakehouse for their weekly flavor update. 

I got a box of heavenly looking, freshly baked pastries including the famous Cruffins - Chocolate & Cocoa nib flavor 9/13, amazing donuts filled with passionfruit cream and cinnamon, and a kouign amann. Love love love the cruffin and the cream, so fresh! 

Good Tips:

1. Get there early! They do run out of everything pretty fast and that when they close. People like to get there at around 8AM. Expect an hour wait. You may get lucky though, if you arrive at the moment they're open. The line moves quite fast.
2. While you're standing in line, they will hand out this sticker which guarantee you a purchase limited to 2 cruffins. Repeat. 2 cruffins per sticker per customer. If not, be patient. :) 
3. You are welcome to walk in to the shop (if you have someone hold your spot for you in line), to get a coffee or other baked goods, as you might need them while waiting. 
4. Wear warm clothes, it's starting to get cold! 
5. Keep in mind that they charge $1.50 for the beautiful white box for your pastry (unless you get a small bag). It's free with a purchase of 6 pieces+ of all baked goods.
6. GOOD LUCK!
7. PS. Sorry, Fork, I was handful and covered with sugar that I didn't get to see you. Till next time! 

Love,

Spoon.

San Francisco: Marlowe Burger

Dear Fork,

It was lovely to see you. Let me tell you how I met you. Today I went to Marlowe for the weekend brunch. It was my second time here, though it was at the new location (500 Brannan St. San Francisco CA). The brown and white theme always got me. The natural light that beamed in through the large glass window was just beautiful. The bathroom that has cows all over the place, that black and white napkin. #style

I have always wanted to try their dinner, especially their Bone Marrow, but oh dear, I keep forgetting that they don't serve certain thing for brunch/lunch! Bummer. 

So, according to many sources and sites, Marlowe's burger is one of the best burgers in San Francisco. Fork, why not!? 

Warm Deviled Eggs

Oh! Before I go to the burger, you must get their Warm Deviled Egg - topped with aged provolone, pickled jalapeño and crispy bacon for $2.5 a piece. This was heavenly, flavors burst in your mouth kinda egg that you shouldn't miss.

Okay, Fork, are you ready for the climax? Here comes the burger....

Marlowe Burger

Don't be surprised of the half-cut of the Marlowe Burger, you know I can never finish one whole burger, I had to share. LOL This burger is not only yummy looking, but it's filled with goodness. It features caramelized onions, cheddar, bacon and horseradish aioli. Served with crispy french fries, you know I hate them soggy. The horseradish aioli is such a great dip along with the basic, ketchup of course. The beef patty was so juicy. Get it medium rare and you will thank me. 

Burrata Tartine

Another great dish for brunch I got was the Burrata Tartine. An open-faced sandwich of grilled Levain bread topped with burrata, candied bacon, chicories and balsamic. The bacon is like Millionaire's bacon, thick-cut, sweet-glazed... NOM!

It was great to see you, Fork, though, I did not get to talk to you as much at this restaurant, but next maybe?

Love,

Spoon

Martinez: Thai Tree Restaurant

9/7/2015

Dear Fork,

I went to Thai Tree restaurant for the first time. They are brand new, just open for less than a month. It's a small restaurant located in the north bay, to be exact 6656 Alhambra Ave, Martinez, CA 94553. It was so hot so I wanted to sit outside for light breeze, very light, perfect. (Not to mention, it was nearly 100 Degree). 

I love finding new Thai spots, and that I get to compare these dishes to other restaurants, is just fun and fulfilling. I know for the fact that Thai food is hard to make, with all those basic ingredients themselves, ugh! That's why I'm glad there are so many good Thai restaurants around. 

Pad Thai Beef

It's not typical for Thai people here to order Pad Thai here in the US, but I did. It was because I was craving for a pan-fried noodle dish. LOL Why not? Thai Tree made them really well, very authentic, and full of flavors. Love the taste of tamarind sauce. Tip: Ask for chili sauce! 

Ocean Bomb

Ocean Bomb was BOMB.COM...This is on their special menu ($15 If I remember correctly) It was spicy, yet so good!! This kind of dishes go really well together with rice. This was served on a sizzling hot stone plate. It's a red curry with mixed seafood (fish, calamari, scallop). YUM. I have to thank Thai Three for beautifying the dishes for us photo-perfect! 

I was so happy to see you, thanks for making my meal wonderful. 

xoxo,

Spoon