It was time to catch up with my sister who went to Oregon for a couple months follwed by 3 weeks in New Zealand for a well-deserved vacation. So I drove up to her place in Oakland Saturday morning and we went on a hike in Joaquin Miller Park in the Oakland hills.

It’s a short hike, mostly easy but with some stretches of moderate uphill climbing. I couldn’t believe how out of shape I was. Generally, I don’t notice this much because I’m sitting around all day and not exerting a lot of energy. But it was really clear during the hike that I’m badly out of shape. I had to stop a few times to catch my breath and was sweating profusely while my sister was fresh as a daisy and could easily carry on the conversation while I puffed and panted behind her.

Still, it was great to be with her and hear about how things are going and how her various trips went. Neither of us were very good with the trail map. Generally, we used it to try to figure out where we were, so that we could then attempt to figure out which way we should go. But since we couldn’t place ourselves on the map, it was generally difficult to figure out which way to go next. So we ended up wandering about in a semi-purposeful manner, consulting the map at strategic locations (whenever there was a fork in the road), making vain attempts to figure out where we were and where we wanted to go, giving up and just taking what seemed to be the most promising route. I think we covered most of the major trails that way. It was a short loop (about 3 miles) so it was a fairly quick hike.

I presume there’s a metaphor about life there, but I’ll leave that to you.

Afterwards, G took me to very yummy Mexican place for lunch, La Cenaduria de Ana Rosa: Donde el sabor perdura al estilo Autlense. The small, narrow but deep room was full of men (one or 2 with a female partner), each table covered with delicious looking platters. I saw huge langustines split open with what looked like bubbling white cheese on top, big bowls of hot red broth heaped full of meats. I couldn’t identify much of what I saw, but I couldn’t wait to dig in.

We were lucky to get a seat right away (the restaurant was otherwise packed) and started munching on thick corn tortilla chips with salsa and very addictive refried beans while perusing their 2 page menu. Unfortunately, making a selection was difficult.

Everything sounded good and I was feeling adventurous but I have this little hangup of wanting to try something I’ve had before whenever I eat at a new place. This helps me set it in context and put the restaurant on a sliding scale of similar places I’ve been in the past. For example, I almost always order Pad Thai at a new Thai place, though I don’t always order it at places I’ve been.

My current Mexican food obsession is to find the most exquisite tamales, so I knew off the bat I’d order their chicken and pork tamales. Alas, the kitchen only had chicken that day so I got that along with fish ceviche. I was also tempted to order a soup and torta but my better sense kicked in and I stopped there. My sister ordered 2 tacos, grilled chicken and beef.

The food was very fresh and flavorful. I loved my ceviche which came mounded on 3 crisp, round corn tortillas. It contained generous amounts of white fish with just enough diced tomato, sweet red onion and cilantro to keep it full of texture and flavor. I squeezed a lime over them for extra zing. The masa of the tamale was good, light and almost fluffy rather than dense and pasty but my search for the perfect tamale continues. Don’t get me wrong though. These were still good enough that I purchased a few extra to take home and stash away in my freezer.

G’s 2 tacos were quite excellent. The meats actually tasted like chicken and full flavored steak with a smoky, slightly bitter tang from the grilling. They were wrapped in thick, almost fluffy corn tortillas that reminded me of pancakes in texture and color.

The dishes were so fresh and alive at this little place in Oakland, it reminds me that I’ll have to explore our Mexican shops in San Jose in hopes of finding something equivalent closer to home. Life is too short not to eat good Mexican food!

Details
La Cenaduria de Ana Rosa
4806 International Blvd. (at 48th Ave.)
Oakland, CA
510-261-8696
Busy street parking only.

On our way home from cat/plant sitting duties for some out-of-town friends, we stopped by Yiassoo’s in Cupertino and had their Super Gyros ($5.95). We’ve been there once before, but neither of us remembered how delicious their Gyros are. The hot, grilled pitas are stuffed with a large mound of sliced, seasoned beef, feta cheese, sweet white onion, diced tomatoes and a tangy yogurt sauce.

Totally delicious.

I believe Yiassoo’s is a small chain in the Bay Area so if you’re lucky there may be one close to you..

What a great surprise it was to finally go to Acquerello after all these years. Dinner was fabulous and how could it be otherwise: wonderful company, delicious food and amazing service.

I’m still too out of it to write a full review but here are a couple notes from the evening.

- Easy parking lot across the street.
- We were early so we stopped by a coffee shop right around the corner and had hot cocoa and a nice chat.

Dinner was sumptious.

Aperitif: a small shot of blood orange juice mixed w/vermouth (nice and pulpy)

First Course
J: Mixed wild greens with a delicious heirloom tomato puree
M: Seared squab breast w/salad in a puff pastry shell

Second Course: we both used bread to sop up the sauces after consuming this course.
J: Lobster panzerotti(ravioli) in a spicy lobster brodo with “Diavolicchio”
M: Ridged pasta with foie gras, scented with black truffles

Third Course
J: Filet of branzino, crisply seared, over warm medley of artichokes, Gaeta olive arugula and potatoes with red wine pancetta vinaigrette
M: Seared lamb chop resting on lettuce wrapped “timpano” of braised lamb shank in red wine reduction

Dessert (split)
Bourbon caramel semifreddo with Amaretti crumbles, and drizzled with chocolate sauce
Lemon mascarpone cheesecake with fresh raspberries and Bing cherry preserves

All in all, dinner was quite wonderful and the service was truly impeccable. The food was special but approachable, not haughty (or haute), full of flavor and expertly prepared.

I’m in full agreement with M, if it were closer to home and I could afford it, I’d love to eat here more often.
…

Details
Acquerello
1722 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA
(415) 567-5432
Acquerello Website

Did you know a sun-warmed melon on the counter will fill the kitchen with fragrance within 5 minutes? It’s true.

My second Galia of the season popped itself off the vine so we’re having melon for breakfast. Or at least for our morning snack. He’s another small guy with a wonderful melony perfume with just a hint of grapefruit.