Back in Palm Springs

We left home in the pouring rain this morning at 7 a.m. and arrived at our Palm Springs condo at 3:30 p.m. where it was sunny and warm. It's a long day of driving the 470 miles, but with the wonderful reward of being here...it's my personal paradise.

This year we are adding a few extra days to our usual week-long stay. We have so many "favorite" things we do down here, a week is not enough time.

So, other than unpacking, stocking up on food at the local Trader Joe's, we've had little time to do more than to go out to dinner.

Our "traditional" first night dinner is at El Mirasol, an authentic Mexican restaurant which is a bit off the beaten path. It's a local favorite; few tourists find their way here, but, once they do, they always return. We try to dine here at least twice during our short stay.

My favorite dish is either chicken or shrimp with house made Pipian sauce, a sauce made from pumpkin seeds. They make their Pipian daily; get here early to make sure they haven't run out of it.

But tonight, while we were looking at the menu, the owner came to our table to tell us that they had a new sauce this evening, a Green Mole, that they were featuring with fresh rockfish, scallops, or shrimp. I had to try it...I chose to have a combination of shrimp and scallops. it was WONDERFUL!!

And, Jim was equally delighted with his Chicken Machaca, grilled tomatoes, onion, and pepper with chicken and melted cheese.

We started our meal with El Mirasol's Guacamole.

All told, a perfect dinner for our first night.

We'll be back next week. Now my dilemma is, will I have the Pipian or hope for a repeat of the Green Mole?

Stay tuned.

From Rain and cool to Sun and warm: It's Palm Springs again!

We left the house a bit before 7 a.m. It was raining and it did rain for several more hours as we drove south and east to Palm Springs. Eight hours and two food/pit stops later, we were in Palm Springs for our annual not-long-enough visit. It's warm and clear here and I'm hoping to relax and acquire enough of a sun tan so I won't look like I've been hiding under a rock for several months.

This rainy cold winter has been pretty horrid, in my estimation...even in Northern California. I'm ready for a hot sunny desert.

After a run through a local Trader Joe's for food for breakfasts and a few lunches while we are here, we got settled in our bungalow and then headed out to dinner at our favorite Mexican place, El Mirasol.

El Mirasol is a bit off the beaten path in Palm Springs and very popular with the locals.

As always, it was packed tonight, both inside in its two dining rooms and outside on its sidewalk patio.

After a day of driving, their simple guacamole and a Pacifico beer hit the spot. The guacamole is pretty much, fresh avocado scooped into a bowl and mixed with chopped tomato.

During our week in Palm Springs, we try to eat at El Mirasol at least twice.



Tonight we both had a combination of scallops and prawns in Pipian sauce. Pipian sauce is a pumpkin seed sauce with ancient Mexican origins. The chefs at El Mirasol make it fresh daily; we try to get here early in the evening to assure they haven't run out of Pipian. The menu features either Chicken or Prawns in Pipian. I asked our server if they had scallops tonight and she checked the kitchen and told us they had both scallops and mahi mahi. I like the combination of scallops and prawns in the Pipian and that's what Jim and I both ordered. Very delicious and a super first night dinner.

El Mirasol is open for lunch and dinner; reservations are not accepted. Get here early for the Pipian sauce. And be sure to ask about any fish that is not on the menu; they'll create any combination of ingredients you desire.

DINING LOCALLY IN VIRGINIA

My sister, Virginia, lives in Virginia, close to Washington D.C. (Fairfax County). At the end of our busy days, we mostly just wanted dinners in comfortable local spots.

I know that many visitors to the D.C. area choose to stay in Fairfax County where there is easy access to the Metro into Washington D.C. but where hotel rates may be less expensive than staying in Washington. With this in mind, these are a few suggestions of places to dine after a busy day of seeing the sights.

ANITA'S "New Mexico Style" Mexican Food.

Anita's has eight locations in Northern Virginia. We ate at the one in Burke, VA, which is nearest to Virginia's house.

There is a real Anita, who,in 1974, after her husband was transferred to Washington, D.C. from Albuquerque, New Mexico,
decided to open a carry out restaurant in Vienna, VA, where she featured the family New Mexican recipes that she so enjoyed and missed.

While Virginia has passed her local Anita's hundreds of times, she's never tried it. It was my seeing it listed in the AAA guide book to Virginia that brought it to our attention. I was more curious than anything else about why AAA may have singled out Anita's. After our dinner at Anita's, several locals told me that they have been eating at Anita's regularly for years. Anita's serves Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Most locations serve all three meals every day, but the Burke one is now serving breakfast only on the weekend.

Although the Burke restaurant was not very busy the evening we dined here, the customers seemed to be "regulars" and there was a steady stream of takeout business.

Virginia ordered the New Mexico Combo of a Chile Relleno, a Pork Tamale, a Chicken Enchilada, a Beef Taco, Spanish Rice, and Beans. It was a lot of food (she took some home) but a perfect way to sample several menu items.



My choice was the Pollo Adovada, a Grilled boneless chicken breast which had been marinated in red chile sauce. It was served on Spanish Rice and with a small salad, guacamole, and a Chicken Flauta.



Both meals were delicious and reasonably priced at about $11 each.

NOODLES & COMPANY


Noodles & Company is a national chain of restaurants featuring noodle dishes. Customers order at the counter and seat themselves. Orders are brought to your table. The formula is simple, choose a noodle dish from your choice of Asian, Mediterranean, or American selections. Decide between a Small or Regular serving. And, optionally, customize your dish with Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, or Tofu selections. More cheese and more fresh veggies are other additions. There are a few side dishes and, for those not wishing noodles, there are meal-sized salads in each of the three cuisines.

Our choices were Penne Rosa for Virginia...spicy tomato cream sauce with mushrooms, tomato, and spinach. She added the suggested "customize" of Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast.



My choice was the Pad Thai to which I added Sautéed Shrimp.



Noodles & Company offers a variety of beverages including beer and wine. I was happy to discover that a tasty glass of wine was $5 a glass, a reasonable price for wine that accompanies a modestly-priced meal in a casual restaurant. I wish more restaurants of this sort realized that a glass of wine should not cost more than the meal itself.


KAZAN


The evening we met our friend Anita for dinner, she suggested Kazan, which is located near her office in McLean and which is one of her longtime favorites.

Kazan features Turkish and Mediterranean Cuisine. This family-run restaurant is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Based on Kazan's unpretentious exterior and location in the equally unpretentious McLean Shopping Center, I never would have discovered this restaurant on my own. I am grateful to Anita for introducing me to Kazan. I certainly plan to return.

In contrast to the exterior, the atmosphere in the two dining areas is cozy and inviting. Service is attentive and friendly.



To start our meal, we shared an order of Fried Calamari. While this does not sound like the most Turkish of dishes, I had read several recommendations for Kazan's Calamari and Anita concurred. We were happy.



Both Anita and Virginia chose the Grilled Atlantic Salmon for their main courses. it was served with rice pilaf and fresh Broccoli.



My choice was the day's Fresh Fish Special which was baked stuffed Tilapia. it was stuffed with Spinach and very delicious.



Not wanting to miss out on trying Kazan's famous Orange Baklava...made with fresh phyllo dough and not overly sweet...we decided to share a serving. Our server suggested we try the evening's Baklava variation, flavored with Pomegranate instead of orange marmelade. We went with his recommendation. I usually find Baklava gooey and too sweet. But, Kazan's variation on this classic is light, flaky and delicious. Sorry, I have no photo of dessert; we started eating as soon as it was brought to the table and, then, it was gone.

For a final bit of Turkish trivia, a Kazan is a special chafing dish that was used to prepare food for the Sultan at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.

Flying Palm Fronds...More from Palm Springs

We woke Tuesday morning to palm fronds flying everywhere. We are told that palm trees rarely fall down but the fronds, some very big, do go flying when the winds kick up. There were wind warnings for the entire day.

The wind didn’t stop me from a morning swim but I was fishing palm fronds out of the pool as I swam my laps.

After a leisurely morning at the pool, we headed to Palm Desert for lunch at Tommy Bahama, in the Gardens on El Paseo and then some shopping on El Paseo, a glorious shopping and art gallery street that is sort of the Rodeo Drive of the desert.

At Tommy’s we did sit out on their upper level deck but because of the wind, despite sunny skies, they had the heaters on and we enjoyed the warmth. The Tommy Bahama's restaurant is a lot like a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Both have menus with a tropical theme and the servers wear their store's cheerful clothing. After a meal at Tommy's or Margaritaville, I always go shopping in their store.



Jim had the St. Kitts blackened roasted fish sandwich…a beautiful piece of fish in a bun and accompanied by a chopped tomato, cucumber, and onion salad.



My choice was the South Beach Cuban sandwich, a warm grilled sandwich of sliced ham and pork with cheese and pickle. My sandwich was accompanied by Yucca fries.



Much as we wanted Key Lime Pie or Coconut Pineapple Whipped Cream cake, we resisted. We drank Mango Iced tea with our lunch.



Then it was on to Saks, Williams Sonoma, Banana Republic, Fresh Produce, Tommy Bahamas shop and many of my our other favorite shops.






We spent quite a bit of time at the Coda Gallery, a large gallery with a beautiful variety of art, both paintings, sculptures, furniture, and glass work.



Dinner was at El Mirasol, our favorite Mexican place in Palm Springs…I like El Mirasol because it is off the beaten path, away from downtown, and for its fresh authentic food.





They still feature their homemade Pipian sauce which they make fresh daily. They still had some when we got there. I had Grilled Shrimp in Pipian.



Jim tried something new, Shrimp Piccado, salted shrimp with peppers and onions.



With a couple of blended Margaritas, we were happy

Dinner and more in the Temescal

The Temescal is an Oakland neighborhood that in recent years has risen from being just another neighborhood to being a culinary destination.

In one short block there is Bakesale Betty, Pizzaiola, and Doña Tomas, all special food places. Across the street is Genova Delicatessen's original location, albeit now expanded and renovated...Genova has two delis in Walnut Creek but got its start in this spot.

I had a gift card to Doña Tomas, a Mexican restaurant that has been on my to-dine list for many years. Tonight was our night to try it. Before heading to dinner, I read some online reviews of Doña Tomas and several complained about noise, small portions,, bad service, and high prices.

Our experience was none of the above. In fact, our dinner was one of the best meals I've had in any Bay Area restaurant and definately the most creative and interesting Mexican meal I have ever had. Doña Tomas makes just about everything it serves fresh at the restaurant. Ingredients are seasonal and mostly from local providers.

We had a choice of being seated on the outdoor back patio or indoors and opted for indoors. We were in a small back dining room that overlooks the patio.



Our room was not at all noisy but, on our way out, we noted that both front indoor dining rooms were very noisy.

After ordering a couple of beers (Pacifico is my current Mexican favorite) and munching on chips sprinkled with cheese and dipped in a dark rich salsa,



we started with a shared order of Sopes de Camarones. The order consisted of three masa cakes topped with fresh shrimp cooked in an achiote marinade, black beans, avocado slices and cilantro. This dish was as beautiful as it was delicious...and very filling too.



Jim's main course was the Tostada con Colache, a crispy tortilla topped with puréed black beans, potatoes, summer squash, corn, tomato and onions. It was garnished with avocado, crema, queso fresco and epazote. It was accompanied by red rice and an arugula and radish salad.



My choice was the Atún con Salsa de Naranja y Chiles, sautéed albacore tuna steak topped with a salsa made with gypsy peppers, red onions, habanero chiles, and orange and lime juices. Also on the place was chunks of watermelon in some kind of sauce and a most amazing Corn & Zucchini Pudding which was more like a corn soufflé. I asked our waiter about the Corn pudding and he said it is only made in summer during the corn season and is very popular. I could go back many times while corn is in season to have more of the pudding, for sure!



Believe me, we were not hungry for dessert but were intrigued by the Pay de Chocolate, Mexican Chocolate Cream Pie in a graham cracker crust. But, we were also intrigued by the Nieve de Yerba Buena con Pastilla de Chocolate, a mint chocolate chip ice cream sundae with Mexican Chocolate sauce. Our waiter told us that he likes them both and often adds the ice cream to his serving of the Pie...and that's what we did. It was worth the indulgence.




About the only thing that Doña Tomas does not make in house is its ice creams and sorbets; they come from Ici in Berkeley, a one location ice cream shop in the Elmwood district where all the ice cream is made daily on site.

Before dinner, we made a quick stop at Bakesale Betty, just as they were closing. We got to know Betty, who is still wearing her blue wig, from our Sunday Farmer's Market where she would don her apron and blue wig and set up her ironing boards to display her baked goods. A few years ago, Betty stopped coming to Farmer's Market because she and her husband opened their shop in the Temescal. Now the ironing boards serve as tables for those who want to enjoy one of Betty's baked items or her famous Fried Chicken Sandwich.




Notice the attentive dog, hopping for a taste of the yummy chicken?

We bought some cookies and banana bread for treats for the coming week.

A WEEK OF CELEBRATIONS

This has been a week of celebrations for me.

Monday, some of my Masters Swim Team buddies took me to lunch at Lark Creek Cafe in Walnut Creek.



If you look carefully, you will see the fresh wild salmon in my sandwich...outstanding meal!

Lark Creek very graciously serves a complimentary dessert to the birthday person. My friends debated between the warm chocolate cupcake and the berry crisp. The crisp won and was large enough for all five of us to share.



Then, Wednesday night, to celebrate the end of my term as President of Mt. Diablo Business Women, the premiere social and networking organization for business women in the San Francisco Bay Area, as far as I am concerned, my Board treated me to dinner at Maria Maria, the innovative Mexican restaurant in Walnut Creek.



Maria Maria is part of the restaurant group owned by the local Dudum family. Carlos Santana collaborated with the restaurant's chef and the Dudums to create the restaurant and its contemporary Mexican menu. His song "Maria Maria" is the inspiration of its name. My favorite dish here is the Chile Relleno. The Chiles are stuffed with vegetables and broiled, not fried. The traditional cheese filling is instead melted around the chiles and accompanied by a spicy tomato sauce. It's a colorful and delicious dish.

Today I enjoyed yet another birthday celebration at Filoli which I will describe in another post.

I am grateful for my supportive friends and colleagues.

PALM SPRINGS...OUT OF THE RAIN & INTO THE SUN

Yesterday, we left Walnut Creek at 6:45 a.m. in the rain...yes, it is still raining in Northern California...and arrived for our week in Palm Springs at 3:15 p.m. And, the sun was shining and the temps were in the 80s. Nirvana!

We stopped at TJs for breakfast and lunch provisions and then went to our condo. I iced my knee, put my legs up, and was soon ready to head out to dinner at El Mirasol, our favorite local Mexican place.(140 E Palm Canyon Dr.,Palm Springs, CA; (760) 323-0721)




As always, El Mirasol was hoppin'. It's a local favorite with families and the local gay community...sort of an insider's restaurant but there are always new people discovering it. A bit off the beaten path, it is worth a visit if you love authentic Mexican food and a spirited atmosphere.

We started with a small serving of Guacamole...it looked more like a big scoop of green ice cream...with a bit of salsa, it hit the spot and got us in the mood.



We both ordered the grilled Shrimp in Pipian sauce, a dish that never disappoints and that is special.



Each day, the El Mirasol chefs cook up a fresh batch of this traditional pumpkin seed sauce. If you get here later in the evening, there is a good chance that they will be out of the Pipian...not that there aren't many other delicious items on the menu, but in my week here, I have to have the Pipian at least once.


These photos may be a bit dark because I was using my phone camera rather than my usual camera which has a flash. Hope you can at least experience the essence of dinner at El Mirasol.

SOUTHERN MEX IN LAFAYETTE

I get my hair cut next door to El Jarro, a Mexican café in Lafayette, CA. (3563 Mt. Diablo Blvd; 925-283-6639).

In the few years that El Jarro has been open, I often consider timing my hair appointments around lunch here. It was not until today that I finally tried El Jarro.

My stylist recommended the Tilapia Vera Cruz, the manicurists love the Mexican Torta Sandwiches. I was advised to not order burritos, enchiladas or tacos because the specialities of El Jarro are the authentic dishes of Southerm Mexico.

The woman who was having her hair cut after me, arrived for her appointment with Sopas from El Jarro...they looked deliciuos and this is what I ordered...what is offered on the menu gives a choice of Chorizo or Chicken as the main filling. I've been told you can ask for custom creations; the woman at the hair salon had Carnitas on her Sopas.

I decided to order off the menu, choosing the Chorizo. My serving consisted of two fried tortilla shells, each about the size of an English Muffin, filled with Chorizo, shredded lettuce, and Mexican cheese. On the side was sour cream and spicy red sauce. At $7.50 the serving, this was more than enough for one hungry person.

The one thing that I would have liked with my lunch was some Agua Fresca, the Mexican fresh fruit drink. El Jarro does not offer such. Instead I had a glass of orange juice, which was a refreshing balance to my spicy dish, but watermelon or strawberry Agua Fresca would have really hit the spot.

The one Mexican non-alcoholic beverage that they serve is Horchata, a drink made with almonds, rice milk, cinnamon, sugar and lime. Next time that's what I will order.

And, there will be a next time. Looking around the small dining room, I observed that the Tortilla soup was very popular. Also at many tables were the Tortas, sandwiches in thick soft Mexican buns, filled with meat, avocado, cheese and more. A customer near me ordered a single taco with Spicy Chicken.

I will be back in 6 weeks, if not sooner...6 weeks is my next hair appointment.

Oh, El Jarro has an enclosed back patio and a few outdoor seats in front on the side walk. It has private free off street parking in the back too.

POSSIBLY THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN BERKELEY

Back on my lunch prowl in Berkeley, I went to my longtime favorite for Mexican food, Picante.



Picante was opened in 1994, in an industrial part of Berkeley, on 6th Street near Gilman Street, by Berkeley natives Jim and Laura Maser. The Masers share a love of Mexico...in fact, they met in Mexico.

To this day, Picante is busy from the time it opens (11 a.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. weekends) until closing time (10 p.m.). The restaurant is open 7 days a week. It's a neighborhood hangout; it's a lunchtime and after work favorite with local business people; its worthy of a detour off Highway 80; and, it's even worth a special trip from other Bay Area suburbs.

Why has Picante endured? Let me count the reasons....for starters, it is a place to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine. Prices are reasonable (just about everything on the menu is priced at less than $10). Servings are generous. And, in addition to making food that tastes oh-so good, the ingredients used are fresh and healthful. Tortillas are made by hand throughout the day (you can watch the tortilla maker at work) from corn that is ground daily at nearby Mi Rancho in Oakland. Herbs, spices and chiles are imported from Mexico. The meats are naturally raised. Local cheese artisans make the cheeses in the style of authentic fresh Mexican cheeses.

Picante is a casual place to dine. Line up to order and pay for your food at the counter. Find yourself a seat either inside in one of the large dining rooms, or outdoors on the patio. Soon, your food will be brought to your table.



J ordered the Manchamanteles Tacos, described as "tablecloth stainer" chicken in red mole. There were three tacos in her order, along with a side of beans...she chose Pinto Beans.



My choice was the Rajas Tacos; I chose Black Beans for my bean side dish. Rajas is roasted poblano chile strips with onions.



I also had a Fresh Fruit Cup for dessert. Our taco plates were $6.95 each. My very large cup of fruit cost $2.75.

Sampling the Manchamanteles, I preferred them to my Rajas, but both dishes were excellent. It was not until after I had placed my order that I discovered that one can order Tacos a la carte, as well as a plate of three as we did. Next time, I plan to have the Manchamanteles, a fish taco, and maybe a Chorizo and Potato one.

It's not all tacos at Picante either. Other choices include Quesadillas, Tostada Salads, fabulous Soups (the Sopa Azteca with chicken looked outstanding), Tamales, Enchiladas, Burritos, and more. A special Vegetarian menu indicates which dishes are Vegan, Lacto-Vegetarian, and Ovo-Vegetarian. A special Brunch menu is offered weekends and holidays until 3 p.m.

And, don't forget the beverages....several agua frescas (fresh fruit drinks) are offered each day and there are always Margaritas and Mexican beers.