A-B-C-Dining

The simple story of two soulroommates taking on the Bay Area dining scene… one letter at a time! Quite honestly, it’s the best project Ever.

begun: November 20, 2009

accomplished: May 29, 2010

A Amber (Northern Indian) B Beretta (contemporary, Italian) C Chez Panisse (market, organic) D Dosa (Southern Indian, contemporary) E Evvia Estiatorio (Greek) F Fenton’s Creamery (diner, ice-cream) G Gelato Classico (gelato) H Homma’s Brown Rice Sushi (sushi) I Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels (bagels) J Joanie’s Cafe (American, French, breakfast) K Kingdom of Chinese Dumpling (Shanghainese, dumplings) M Marco Polo Gelato (gelato) L Limon (Peruvian) N Noe Valley Bakery & Bread Company (bakery) O The Oaxacan Kitchen (Southern Mexican) P Pluto’s Fresh Food (create-your-own salads, sandwiches) Q Q Restaurant and Wine Bar (funky American comfort food) R Cafe Renzo (Italian) S Saint Michael’s Alley (American, breakfast, brunch) T Tartine Bakery (bakery) U University Coffee Cafe (American, breakfast, brunch) V Verde Tea Espresso Bar (boba, toast) + The Village Pub (classic continental, market) W Wilbur Dining Hall X XYZ (American) Y Yank Sing (dim sum) Z Zeni (Ethiopian)

Amber (Northern Indian): (650) 968.7511 … 2290 El Camino Real, #9, Mountain View, CA 94040

This was the very first dinner of The Quad!!! The Quad = Edie and I, and Karthik and Jake, the two wonderful young men across the hall [who I think love us as much as we love them, even if they won't say it in those words. Tee hee]. Edie and I really wanted some Karthik-approved Indian food, and he chose Amber, apparently one of the best for Northern Indian food in the area. Dal, butter chicken (highly recommended by the lady at the next table) and the palak paneer (spinach). Entree prices are generally in the $10-$20 range, and it was all great, though I personally am less inclined toward the generally creamier and more meat-based nature of Northern Indian food. (And honestly I couldn’t remember what we ordered, and had to ask Karthik just now.)

http://www.amber-india.com/MtnView/home.htm

Beretta (contemporary, Italian): (415) 695.1199 … 1199 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

You had better not leave this restaurant without ordering the Gratin of Roasted Butternut Squash with Walnuts. It blew our minds! A smooth yet well-textured butternut squash with a thin, crunchy topping of walnut is served in a souffle-like bowl. Ohmygoodness. Exquisite. We also ordered monterey sardines en saör; eggplant caponatina with burrata; and pizza funghi misti, tomato, fontina & thyme, all of which shined. But the gratin…!

Our reservation was for 6:15 on Friday, and when we left about 45 minutes later, the restaurant was packed. It was clear how of-the-moment this restaurant is. Dim lighting, fabulous wall decor and a helpful waiter also contributed to the making of these two loyal Beretta fans.

http://www.berettasf.com/

Chez Panisse (market, organic): cafe (510) 548-5049 … 1517 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709

A bright and refreshing [and pricey] restaurant! The lady on the phone gave the impression that reservations were extremely packed, but that hardly seemed the case when we went for a Saturday lunch (after deciding dinner was out of our budget). We ordered light items, including a beet salad; a roasted cauliflower toast with capers; and a very green salad mix of cucumbers and rocket, if I remember correctly. I was wonderful to be eating such simple ingredients combined in creative ways. One random thing I like about Chez Panisse is the complementary sparkling water.

Perhaps it was our aversion to spending too much, but we both agreed we needed more food, i.e. dessert – elsewhere. (By which I mean a gelateria several streets away.)

http://www.chezpanisse.com/intro.php

Dosa (Southern Indian, contemporary): (415) 642.3672 … 995 Valencia (@ 21st Street), San Francisco, CA 94110

MMMM. The entire delicious experience started right at the door with the wafting scent of Southern Indian spice. Karthik said that it reminded him of his mom’s Indian cooking at home. Which, of course, made me sososo happy we had chosen Dosa. The dimly-lit restaurant is warm and cozy, featuring deep orange walls, unexaggerated spot lighting and some slanted ceiling. Following the name, Edie, Jake and I each ordered dosas, which were all shaped differently and served with two smooth and subtly spicy chutneys, tomato and fresh coconut, as well as sambar (lentil dipping soup). Karthik ordered uttapam, a pancake-like dish (that I’m not quite sure was enough food for him! So I gave him some of my hearty vegetable Spring Dosa). Plus we all took advantage of the menu’s invitation to eat with our hands, which I hadn’t done before and totally enjoyed. For dessert the four of us split two rasmalai, which was light and not overly sweet (though Edie thought it could’ve used some more cardamom savoriness). The entire meal exceeded expectations and was surprisingly accessible – a wonderful introduction to the Southern Indian cuisine. Except for one, the dosa and uttapam are all $10-$11 and completely worth it. It got quite loud, and was definitely packed that Friday night. But for good reason! Highly, highly recommended. (Oh, and definitely Karthik-recommended.)

http://www.dosasf.com/dv_index.html

Evvia Estiatori0 (Greek): (650) 326.0983 … 420 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

I have never, ever tasted octopus that tender before. Must-order: Octapodaki tou Yiorgou, in all of its olive-oil-lemon-oregano glory . Edie knowingly stated that the octopus was the way to judge a true Greek restaurant, and Evvia passed the bar. Helen’s Anginares Souvlaki, grilled artichoke and eggplant skewers, came with an exquisitely sharp Greek yogurt. My light Fakes green lentil vegetable soup answered my recent lentil craving with a deep heartiness that totally caught me off guard! The restaurant was packed on Friday night, but never got too loud, which is why Helen, Edie and I all agreed it’d be a good date-restaurant. However, it was also clear how well it served as the venue for family gatherings or celebration dinners. We had a table close to the kitchen that blessed us with front-row seats to roasting chicken and various loaves of bread being sliced and tossed right into their baskets. The bread has actual crust, was perfectly rosemary-flavored and came with genuine-article, true-blue olive oil. The decor is wonderful. Open space, low stone walls, wooden tables, rustic-looking collections of frames and bottles and pans – it all constructs the scene of a warm summer evening in the Mediterranean. BIG FAN. WORTH IT!

Fenton’s Creamery (diner, ice-cream): (510) 658.7000 … 4226 Piedmont Ave, Oakland, CA 94611-4749

| read me! |

http://www.fentonscreamery.com/

Gelato Classico (gelato): (650) 327.1317 … 435 Emerson Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

I tried the spumoni flavor here for the first time! And it was okay, but I already know I can find better elsewhere. Their Coconut Macadamia Nut is not so good… Overall, Gelato Classico is that neighborhood gelateria that will hit the gelato spot (hee hee), but I won’t say more than that. Don’t come ready to lounge, as there are only two metal tables outside for that. There are pages taped to the window stocked with badly re-typed quotes of overly favorable reviews. I distrust the one quoting The Times with something like “best gelateria in the universe, ever”… The business card says “Voted #1 Best Ice Cream In Town.” My response? Gelato is NOT ice-cream. Yikes. I’m coming off as way too harsh. The pluses: easy and approachable + Edie-approved ginger flavor + Nina-approved Vanilla Bean.

Homma’s Brown Rice Sushi (sushi): (650) 327.6118 … 2363 Birch Street (off California Avenue), Palo Alto, CA 94306

Referred to me by a friend who knew of our struggle for the right H, the absolute definition of hole-in-the-wall, and a fabulous discovery. I have a feeling this is one of those great places that will end up bonding me with some random person who is also in on the secret. There are a total of four tables in this restaurant, one Japanese man preparing the dishes on a Friday night, and zero lines. The unique use of brown rice added a texture and edge I’ve never experienced with sushi before. The rice was sticky and worked surprisingly well. The BBQ Eel is delicious, as is the slippery squid (in the white, hiding behind the little grass decor). I also remember the yellowfin tuna particularly well. Edie noted specifically how great it was to have ginger in its natural glorious state – unpickled for once. You should definitely check this place out. It’s just so good and low-key. And, what, like 20 seconds from the Marguerite C-line bus stop? No excuse now, really.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hommas-brown-rice-sushi-palo-alto

Izzy’s Brooklyn Bagels (bagels): (650) 329.0700 … 477 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306

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http://www.izzysbrooklynbagels.com/

Joanie’s Cafe (American, French, breakfast): (650) 326.6505 … 447 S. California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306

Joanie’s is bright, clean and comfortable, and there’s a great little outdoor seating area. At around 7:45 on the beautiful Thursday morning we were seated, and by 8 we left a line of customers waiting behind us! We were served SO FAST, thankfully – Edie and I were SO excited for breakfast. (Duh.) We both got a large and really delicious-looking banana muffin, Joanie’s muffin of the day, with our eggs. I enjoyed the top – it was crisp enough with serious banana chunks. But Edie could taste baking powder in hers. Plus I realized that the rest of it was a little too soft for me (albeit after finishing it all). However, it appears their home-baked muffin is a general draw: apparently some come just for that. There are scrambles, omelettes, buttermilk pancakes and waffles, and a French toast my Cantor coworker said was quite good. (Oh, and can I just say that their orange juice is FOUR dollars?! Xavi had a glass, but don’t worry – he knew beforehand.) Joanie’s is a comfortable little place for breakfast. Our waiter was very friendly. (Except really, why do people bother with that observations? You could get someone totally different than me, right?) It’s not on my list of spectaculars, but was certainly a pleasurable experience. (And for some reason I’m still intrigued about their other muffins… he he.)

http://www.joaniescafepaloalto.com/

Kingdom of Chinese Dumpling (Shainghainese, dumplings): (415) 665.6617 … 1713 Taraval St (between 27th Ave & 28th Ave), San Francisco, CA 94116

This place is raved about all over the Internet, and had to be our K. It’s a tiny, five- or six-table hole-in-the-wall dumpling restaurant (so many dumplings) that seriously rakes in the crowd. We got there at three, and luckily only had to wait about 10 minutes for them to clear a table for us; several parties were waiting outside, and one lady went to get coffee while she waited! The kitchen in the back is tiny, kind of dirty and the tablecloths are sufficiently stained, to be sure. But our [vinegar-ed] cucumber salad, which every other table was also getting, was satisfactory. The shrimp and chive dumplings, a generous 12 to a plate, were juicy but not extraordinary: a little sparse on the filling and not overly flavorful. I was really anticipating the xiao lom bao, though, to see how it matched up to the ones I’ve had in Hong Kong… (drum roll please…) and I wasn’t disappointed. For being made in the States, they were definitely good. They weren’t as filled as I’d like, but contained an appropriate amount of soup, and I frankly devoured them. Edie and I totally loved how the owner kept coming by to ask how everything was going, how he randomly gave us a third chair, and how he gave Edie her rice “like American-style” when she asked for it for her curry fish ball soup. We definitely got a kick out of that. Edie and I had SO much fun discovering Kingdom of Dumpling (dumpling – singular! I lovelovelove that) and you should totally go. Do get the xiao lom bao. Do be tender with their soup-filled-ness. And if you’re already acquainted with real xiao-lom-bao-in-China, don’t be snooty – for the States, I’d definitely support that this could be the top!

http://www.kingofchinesedumpling.com/english/contact.htm

Limon (Peruvian): (415) 252.0918 … 524 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-1115

We walked into Limon right at opening time with rave reviews ringing in our ears, anticipating something great as they made us wait for another 10 minutes to set up. When we were at last seated at a table, the brighter light revealed too many specks of dust and dirt on too many of our cups and plates. I couldn’t fathom how our waitress didn’t automatically notice when she poured us more hot water from the very impractical kettle on our table. And while the ceviche de pescado was fresh and flavorful, my ensalada de atun featured a crust that lacked real crust and a sub-par salad on the side that took up most of the room. On the other hand, Edie’s Quinotto de Vegetales was wonderful! It was a pretty dish of quinoa and bites of veggies colored in the orange-red of a smooth pimento sauce. I still think fondly of that quinotto, but I don’t think I’ll have time to visit Limon again…

http://limonsf.com/

Marco Polo Gelato (gelato) : (415) 731.2833 … 1447 Taraval Street (between 24th Ave & 25th Ave), San Francisco, CA 94116

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Noe Valley Bakery & Bread Company (bakery): (415) 550.1405 … 4073 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-3715

There’s nowhere to sit inside this tiny bakery, but Edie and I found ourselves called to a bench across the street on the opposite sidewalk that was bathing in full-on sunlight. So, with a banana muffin in Edie’s hand and a coffee cake muffin in mine and two coffees to go, that’s where we got comfortable reading for the next couple hours. The walk up the long street all the way to the bakery was half the glory, because, as Edie noted, the neighborhood vibe was palpable. Kids and families were all over the sidewalk, and the air was bright and busy on that Saturday afternoon. I really enjoyed my coffee cake muffin, especially the nutty chunk and splash of frosting on the top. Overall, though, it made me realize how much I want actual coffee cake, with a real brown sugar layer in the middle. Edie’s banana muffin, I believe, was just okay – perhaps not banana-full enough. But Noe Valley also had the most adorable seasonal items, like a Baby Birds in a Nest cupcake, and mini lamb-shaped chocolate and vanilla cakes. So please, please remember Noe Valley if you find yourself in San Francisco in a particular spring and soon-to-be summer spirit.

The Oaxacan Kitchen (Southern Mexican): (650) 321.8003 … 2323 Birch Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306

In a fabulous twist of scheduling fate, we were joined by five (!) of our friends for a dinner party of Southern Mexican food. Amidst all of the colorful hanging paper fabrics and visible kitchen and rich orange surrounding us, Edie and I felt sublime [and perhaps too parental?] joy in bringing different friends together and watching the unexpected links happen immediately. Also, it was my first time having mole, and I loved it. There’s no way I could pinpoint all of the spices and nuts and seeds in the black mole Ashley and Anne Sophie, and Helen and I shared, but they were dancing in sync on our taste buds. The texture was unfamiliar and flowed like lava on a gratifyingly tender piece of chicken, rice and beans. Then I ventured for a taste of Kauanoe’s salmon, and found it swooning for me almost before my fork had even reached it! And a single sample prawn from Anna’s ceviche was marinated through and through with a fresh lime’s juice. In terms of money, though, Edie’s choice wins – $6 for the tamale? Yes, it’s true. In sum, I highly recommend Oaxacan Kitchen. I come from the beaches of Southern California, where good Mexican food abounds on every corner, so while Oaxacan Kitchen is pricy, I’ll take it for being the first great Mexican food I’ve had up north.

http://www.theoaxacankitchen.com/

Pluto’s Fresh Food (create-your-own salads, sandwiches): (650) 853.1556 … 482 University Avenue @ Cowper, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Ah, Pluto’s! If you have been to Sprout Cafe on the opposite end of University Avenue, you’ll recognize the clever create-your-own-salad concept. I did find Pluto’s a little more stressful, though, for you make your ingredient decisions all at one moment instead of as you wait in line. The entire space-theme in the menu and decorations belatedly reminded me of what “Pluto” might mean (duh), and definitely reminded me of Space Mountain in Disneyland. Nevertheless, I was thoroughly entertained as we waited in line. The major pluses? Cheap! - for the uber-ginormous servings. Edie and I were both well-provided for lunch the day after. For a chain, I appreciate it. Quick, easy… and lots o’ good ingredients for cheap. Useful for a college student, right?

http://www.plutosfreshfood.com/

Q Restaurant and Wine Bar (funky American comfort food): (415) 752.2298 … 225 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94118

Edie and I don’t normally brunch, because by the time brunch time rolls around, we’ve had breakfast, completed major work tasks, grocery shopped and probably gone to town. But at Q, we brunched. And a real authentic brunch it was! Q dazzled us with true taste and personality. The walls have chalk writing and pictures and little lights jumping off of them, and individual homemade box tables that you can look into. Thin metal binders for the menu flip open to American home cooking at its best, including old favorites and creative twists. The wait staff was half the fun: they were friendly, posed for the camera, explained the meaning of “Q” (their BBQ), never allowed half-empty glasses… and EVEN referred us to a restaurant that will absolutely be showing up later on this page! Edie’s Hippy Heaven tofu scramble was chock-full of spices and vegetables, and though there wasn’t much our waitress could do about Edie’s request for more spiciness, none of it was left on her plate. My favorite part of my sauteed mushroom, spinach and white cheddar omelette was the side of charred and spiced potatoes. They weren’t greasy, they weren’t mushy, but they were totally rocking my world. Q is the way to unique brunch bliss. Just go. (Oh, and it’s featured on FoodNetwork’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” I mean, Guy’s face is stenciled on the wall! Legit.)

http://qrestaurant.com/

Cafe Renzo (Italian): (650) 329.8300 … 473 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301

| read me! |

Saint Michael’s Alley (American, breakfast, brunch): (650) 326.2530 … 140 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

On an early Sunday afternoon, Edie, John and I became acquainted with the brunch menu of Saint Michael’s Alley. Partially hidden in foliage and ivy, bright and casual inside, Saint Michael’s is charming and friendly. Our table was ready for us before our hunger got too painful (we were quite hungry). On the way to the bathroom, I passed a basket of their raspberry scone-of-the-day that stopped me in my tracks: large, wonkily misshapen and smattered with bright pink. So John and Edie each got one and fell fast in love; they were firm on the outside and appropriately moist inside. (I think they may have been a little too soft overall for my own taste, though.) After much deliberation, I decided that a Belgian waffle would hit the spot, and I was so right! It was so light and fluffy… and I appreciated the dollop of tangy plain yogurt. Edie’s scrambled eggs were a fabulous combination, but may have sat around a bit for my waffle, she realized later. The feta cheese on it was heavenly, though. And John’s fruit and chewy granola breakfast sundae was served in a enormous plate. It was an easy, classic brunch. Maybe a bit predictably pricey, though…?

http://www.stmikes.com/

Tartine Bakery & Cafe (bakery): (415) 487.2600 … 600 Guerrero Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

| read me! |

http://www.tartinebakery.com/

University Coffee Cafe (American, breakfast, brunch): (650) 322.5301 … 271 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Okay, seriously, finding U was difficult… but Edie realized, epiphany-like, that despite frequenting University Cafe numerous times, we still hadn’t done their breakfast! We were definitely looking forward to their french toasts… though when I got there they had just pulled out warm blueberry scones from the oven that looked delicious. I got one with a berry compote, and it was the perfect combination. The compote was a cool blend of fresh berries, and the scone was warm, perfectly-baked, and packed with juicy blueberries. But Edie’s baked croissant french toast was a big let-down… with its “seasonal fruit” little side of tangerines, grapes and kiwis. And combined with a tiny croissant and definitely not-homemade syrup, $10 was just way too much. Ashley and Anne Sophie joined us later – both very, very happy with their own warm blueberry scones. And then Edie and I, after an hour or so of work, got busy drawing on their card stock table covers. Anyway, University’s scones are a major two thumbs up. Go early and get ‘em warm!

Verde Tea Espresso Bar (boba, toast): (650) 210.9986 … 852 Villa St, Mountain View, CA 94041

Finally! Edie and I, getting boba on Castro Street! With Kauanoe and Marc and Kelly, the latter two of which had inspired in me a boba-at-castro mood months ago! (I guess we’ve been behind the times on this one. ) I couldn’t believe how many flavors there were, but I eventually chose “hazalnut” (the typo amused me – maybe that’s why I ended up getting it), which was just the nutty I was looking for. Edie and Marc’s red bean flavor even had a helping of the sweet red bean paste at the bottom. What I really appreciated was how good the tapioca balls were – firm, chewy and not mushy. In terms of late-night snackage, Kelly got some fried chicken, and Kauanoe took advantage of their random menu of thick toast. The coconut kind was crisp and somehow comforting, though it’s really just white bread or something. It was an adventure of a trip: we were in a rush, laughing the whole way there and back, and done with our boba in maybe 15 minutes, tops. Next time I’ll try Sesame or something...

The Village Pub (classic continental, market): (650) 851.9888 … 2967 Woodside Road, Woodside, CA 94062

Oh – exquisite! Reservations absolutely recommended, and absolutely prior to the day of. Edie, Turdle (Edie’s little sister), Bob (Edie’s dad) and I were semi-dressed up as we stepped into The Village Pub, which was simply but classically decorated, and filled with people at our 8:30 reservation time. For appetizers, we chose seared scallops, a chilled asparagus royal with caviar, and a shaved foie gras torchon with a tangy poached rhubarb. Our main dishes included spaghettini with crispy artichokes, olives and lemon bagna cauda (a creamy, fondue-like mixture of a sauce); an exceptionally tender seared duck breast; slow roasted lamb with poached butter beans and escarole; and my grilled albacore tuna with amazing soft, stuffed piquillo peppers and poached chick peas atop a thin, savory sauce I’m not quite sure how to describe. But I don’t know if I’ll ever be satisfied with chick peas at the dining hall anymore. And THEN! Dessert! Some serious dessert. Here’s what was passed between the four of us: strawberry rhubarb crisp, panna cotta, strawberry and mascarpone cake, and a flawless chocolate souffle with a light Grand Marnier custard for pouring. At the end, to top it all off, we were served four complementary chocolate truffles. This little section is probably the most luxurious of this page. But it was also a wonderful, wonderful first dinner to celebrate my very much long-awaited first day of knowing Bob and Turdle. YAY! The Village Pub belongs in the category of Chez Panisse and Evvia Estiatorio. Up there. And great for big occasions. =)

http://www.thevillagepub.net/home.php

Wilbur Dining Hall: (650) 725.1500 …

The one thing that always boggles our minds is why anyone gets dinner at Manzanita Dining when Wilbur is right across the street. I can’t even remember when exactly we discovered the greatness of Wilbur Dining. But I do know for sure that our disappointment with our dorm’s own Manz began quite early. Thus, a simple habit of replacement was begun. Wilbur has the best salad bar, always has some form of “esteemed” vegetables (yeah, we get a kick out of that, honestly), and consistently has several great surprises in store… Like baby octopus in a really fresh salad (that rocked our world). Or an actually delicious spanakopita. Or really great chickpeas in various forms. Or nuts that we can hoard for our homemade muesli-in-yogurt (inspired by Tartine Bakery) concoctions. And you may currently be wondering: how could they pick a dining hall for a letter? But all of the events of our May 15 led us to this particular W, especially once we realized how important it’s been for our sophomore year, the [relatively] few times we’ve actually dined on campus. We have our signature spot, of course. And if you spot us there, you’ll likely find a “Wilbur Responds” flyer sitting nearby. Those things are awesome. Some people write the most ridiculous feedback/someone on the dining staff has the funniest responses. Dear Wilbur, we so very much appreciate your quality. Thank you.

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/dining/wilbur.htm

XYZ Restaurant (American): (415) 817.7836 … 181 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

The eggs! Are marvelous! As the choices of Edie and me ranged the egg spectrum, the fact that both were done so well was impressive. The eggs benedict dish combined tomato and steamed spinach, poached eggs intact, and a crispy toast somewhat soggy with zingy hollandaise. Its presentation was simple, and tasted sublime. My side of the table happily embraced fluffy and fresh egg whites, with absolutely no grease to speak of. BUT! In a moment of dramatic scare, it suddenly dawned on us that the “vegetarian sausages” tasted strongly of meat… after I had given my vegeterian roommate Edie a sample! Uh-oh. I think my heart stopped for a second. Our waitress told us, in a strangely unabashed way, that they were straight from the Safeway package, but that she would go check the kitchen. She came back and confirmed the basic ingredients of grains, etc. But I left them anyway. Because it was just weird. But I did crunch away on the yummy toasted walnut bread also on the side. (This is what put us in the walnut mood as we picked pastries for our subsequent Philz afternoon coffee!) And prices? Well, it is the W Hotel, SF, ladies and gentlemen. We each paid approximately $18. Thus, if you’re out for a brunch splurge, come along this way to the eggs.

http://www.xyz-sf.com/

Yank Sing (dim sum): (415) 541.4949 … 49 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

San Fran dim sum with Emilio and Dan! It was wonderful being on a dim sum field trip with two former Roble Dorm boys. The dim sum was delicious, definitely. Yank Sing’s Web site pretty much sold Edie and I, especially with their unique selection of purely vegetarian items; the photos looked great, they tasted just as good. The snow pea shoot dumplings with peas and other greens were gratifyingly stuffed, as were the round spinach dumplings. The Shanghai dumplings were also delicious with the vinegar and ginger and were filled with the tasty warm soup. It was also 10 dollars for that one serving. We overheard the waitress telling another table it was their specialty, which pretty much resolved the mystery of what in the world on our check was 10 Georges.  So it was definitely expensive, and we didn’t all leave completely full. Our wallets, on the other hand, were each about $28 lighter. It was delicious, yes. But we decided that we probably should have predicted it to be more costly… considering the super-official look of their Web site, and the fact that the “Gallery Menu” doesn’t reveal any price tags. Also, they’re only open at lunch time. Well! Now you know. It’s great dim sum, yes. (The service is weird and inefficient, but I never actually expect that for dim sum.) It looks like it’s won quite a few awards. But it’s perhaps/definitely not within the average budget. Maybe come with your parents? And do try their interesting vegetarian options!

http://www.yanksing.com/home.php

Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant (Ethiopian): (408) 615.8282 … 1320 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose, CA 95129

Zenizenizeni! Our Z. With seven of our friends, it was a marvelous finale. Absolutely delicious Ethiopian food, comfy cushioned little stools, spongy injera bread and eating with our [clean] hands all combined for a communal dining experience. We ordered the vegetable combination, the meat combination, an extra type of lamb, and were off and scooping it all up until stuffing point. Yet we only had to pay $11 each. Yes – marvelous. Between our fingers were: curried potatoes/lentils/collard greens/home made feta-like textured cheese/really tender chicken leg covered in a spicy, black seed-and-spice sauce/ground beef/lamb… and the super-fluffy injera bread, of course. The injera is super great at soaking up the leftover sauces when all the chunky parts of the dish have been finished, and you’re really full already but you obviously can’t stop. The nine of us sat around three platters, gabbing and gobbling away and figuring out what exactly everything was. It was so much fun, and if you think that eating with your hands makes things taste better anyway, you should make your way over here ASAP. Especially if you’re with a large group. Thank goodness we went for an early dinner at five! By six it was packed. And close to 6:45 we were out the door, sort of loitering, Ashley and Yeji busting out their cameras, and all of us besides, Kauanoe, Janet, Rachel, Dan, Edie and I, squinting into the light… And I was starting to get hit with some big realizations…

But with my friends, in the sun, and happy stomachs all around, it was the best kind of bittersweet ending I could ask for.

http://www.zenirestaurant.com/index.html

final notes, see: Edie & Nina, A to Z