Hindu Kush-ed

What:  Kabul Afghan cuisine

Why: If you are in the mood for some Afghani food!

Where: Burlingame avenue, Burlingame

Who: Sadly, the world wide web could not churn out any relevant information about the owner. However, a friendly lady (who exuded the "proud to be the owner" look) greeted us upon our arrival, but I was so overcome by the rumblings of my tummy that I forgot to ask or confirm!

 BayMonkey two cents: Before moving to the bay area, my tyrst with Afghani food could be summed up in one simple word- "NADA". Although unfamiliar, I was curious as a cat about the cuisine of this land-locked country with rugged terrains, even more tumultous history and its geographical proximity to India. I was pleasantly surprised with my first experience at Helmand Palace (San Francisco) and so decided to add on to my new found love for Afghani cuisine by visiting Kabul in Burlingame.

As always, lets start with the food. Although not listed on the menu, they did have a nice refreshing yoghurt drink (like the Persian Doogh Abali) which is higly recommended to get the juices flowing! Once the drinks were in place, came the appetizers. We ordered the "Aushak"-spring onion and leek filled dumplings soaked in Yoghurt and a meat sauce (meat being ground lamb) and it did not dissappoint us at all! The dish was very flavorful, thanks to the amazing combination of lamb and yoghurt which tickles and delights your tastebuds with the complimenting meaty and tarty flavors. Next up, were the entrees comprising of Challow Gulpi(cauliflower stew with rice) and Kabab-e-Murgh (chicken stew with rice), accompanied by some good old  Afghani bread. Strangely, the entrees came with a salad (with a ranch like dressing) which I felt was not really traditional and seemed a little out of place. Needless to say, I wasn't very excited about the greens as for what would follow. The Challow Gulpi was a bit of a downer, since it tasted a tad too sweet for my liking and I was expecting a spice-rich, flavorful curry. The chicken was tender (it tasted even better the next day as a leftover) and although the stew base/broth looked the same for both dishes, the chicken thankfully was not cloyingly sweet like the Gulpi. The Afghani bread was warm and crisp and mmmm delicious! Although it brought back memories of the ever popular Indian bread "Naan", I found this Afghani cousin to be more on the crispier side.We ended our lunch on a sweet note with some Phirni (a thick rice pudding laced with saffron and cardamom) and left with our doggy bag of leftovers.

MONKEY METER

  1/2


Food:

Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Very. Lots of vegetarian options exist!

Interior/decor: A very spacious restaurant with beautiful Afghani wall decor (paintings, photos and even traditional apparel). The bar seemed to be pretty large and extensive with the rows and rows of wine bottles on display! 

Service: Friendly and attentive.

For everything else on Kabul, do consult YELP.

The desired one

What:  Aziza

Why: For heavenly Moroccan cuisine (with a difference)

Where: Central Richmond, San Francisco

Who: Owned by Chef Mohrad Lahlou (the famed winner of Iron Chef America 2009), Aziza represents a modern twist on Morrocan classic with flavors influences from both the Mediterranean and Californian shores. Winner of a Michelin star and many other accolades, Aziza has often been deemed as the best Moroccan restaurant in San Francisco. The mouth-watering desserts by pastry chef Melissa Chou provide a sweet complement.

BayMonkey two cents: True to its name (Aziza means beloved, cherished), this restaurant fills you up with the sensous flavors of Morocco and leaves your thirsting for more. I've visited it twice and hope to go back again and again. So, without any further ado, lets move on to the food.

Morocco, due to its geographical location in Northern Africa, represents a confluence of  Mediterranean as well as regional Berber cuisines. Chef Lahlou plays harmoniously with these influences and creates a divine, light creation which fills you up just right. Since the portions are not on the larger side, at least two appetizers are advised as starters before you move on to the entrées. We started out with the incredibly delicious "beet" and "squid" appetizer (the menu is very interestingly presented with every dish being named by its main ingredient with the complementing ones mentioned below it) and moved on to the "halibut" and "chicken" entrées.

The color, texture, tenderness, crispiness and taste of each and every culinary creation that came our way was absolutely spell binding! The food was the perfect amalgamation of several unusual ingredients creating the perfect harmony of visual and gastronomical desires-the meat and fish were tender yet crispy and the hidden flavors of the licorice or sinful marmalade seemed to catch us off guard by bursting in our mouths  and catching us pleasantly off guard. Being a modern twist on traditional Moroccan cuisine, the expected desserts such as ("Gazelle's horn" or "snake pastry" as suggested by my friend) were not present on the menu, but we did end our memorable culinary sojourn with an amazingly crafted dessert (white chocolate mousse). Finally, came the Moroccan mint tea which provided us the perfect, adequate warmth to brave the chilly weather as we stepped outside.

Last (but definitely not the least), a few small things: Aziza has an extensive wine list, and although not a huge fan of fermented grapes, I did indulge in a sweet, red Iberian wine as my beverage accompaniment. There is also a tasting menu which lets you indulge in a little bit of everything, but it requires a mandatory participation of all table guests. Final closing remark: Aziza, you truly are my beloved!

MONKEY METER

1/2  (interior is somewhat eerily dark in some corners)


Food:

Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Absolutely! Several choices exist in both the appetizer and entrée section.

Interior/decor: Nice mysterious ambiance in terms of glowing lights , but as mentioned before, it does seem a bit dark in there.

Service: Good to very good/friendly (our server the second time, was really nice and attentive!)

Aziza is almost always packed to the "A". So reservations are a must! For all the little details to fill up your food life, there is always YELP.

Atop the world's plateau

What: Cafe Tibet

Why: For authentic Tibetan food

Where: University Ave (Downtown), Berkeley

Who: A very nice, helpful Tibetan lady runs this place (incidentally also our server of the day when we first visited one afternoon). Further details are unknown (her origin remains shrouded in mystery like the Himalayan kingdom itself) but I guess we should let the food do all the talking!

BayMonkey two cents: Misleading conceptions about Tibetan food (and for that matter, cuisine of any other Himalayan country sandwiched between India and China) is that how very often people refer to such cuisines as a cross between Indian and Chinese fare. So just to clear the air for once and for all (hopefully), Tibetan food ain't Indian or Chinese or a mish-mash of both! Its culturally distinct, unique and representative of the land, its resources and people. Its best enjoyed for the diversity it offers, and not a borrowed similarity.

Now that this private peeve of mine has been taken care of, lets move on to the food. I've been here twice (lunch and dinner) and have loved the meals every single time! The food has all the warmth of a home cooked meal and is authentically Tibetan. The appetizers are big enough to be ordered as a complete meal if you go for a couple and this is what we did on both occasions. First up, the eggplant chips (Dholooma Kamngoe) were amazing and bore an uncanny resemblance to the "beguni" (eggplant fritters), a popular street food in Kolkata, India. The chips were savory, gently laced with salt and spices and had a crispy, crunchy feel to them with a well cooked eggplant in the core. The accompanying red dip was pure delight! Next stop were the mouth-watering momos (Himalayan dumplings). The steamed variety is highly recommended and you can either order a combination platter of meat and vegetable momos or a single kind, my personal favorite being the chicken momos (adorably called Sha momo). The next order of the Cafe Tibet soup (tofu, chicken,oats, veggies) was exactly what was needed for that cold, rainy day; a hot flavorful broth overflowing with heartwarming goodness. Finally, we ended up sampling the famous Tibetan butter tea (remember the memorable scene in Seven Years in Tibet?)- a salty tea with the richness of butter; definitely go for it if you are in an adventurous mood. All items on the menu come in two avatars (lunch or dinner version) and although small, there are still plenty of items to choose from. Definitely worth repeat visits!

MONKEY METER

Food:



Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Friendly indeed, with lots of choices!

Interior/decor: A small place decorated with Tibetan wall hangings, statues and a potrait of the Dalai Lama on one of the walls. Nothing fancy, but has a homely feel.

Service: Friendly, helpful and attentive.

For more details to fill your cranium, visit YELP.

Go Green With...Delight!

What: Vegetarian house

Why: For yummy vegetarian, no! make that VEGAN, food

Where: Downtown, San Jose

Who: The restaurant, inspired by the "Supreme Master" Ching Hai (the name sent me into a major Googling spiral), opened in 1994 and has been serving organic vegan food since then. Through the philosophy of non violence in food (i.e. no animal slaughter/animal product use), they aim to spread the message of harmonious and peaceful coexistence of all living beings.

BayMonkey two cents: True to the saying "the proof of the pudding lies in its eating", you have to let your tastebuds make the decision as you dig in to the amazing platter of nature's bounty, brought to your table by Vegetarian house. Who knew that food could taste this lip-smacking good without meat or diary products?  Vegetarians, lactose intolerants, vegans, gluten-intolerants (they have lots of soy dishes)-come as you are; There is plenty for everyone!

 On to the food. VH has a pretty extensive menu and showcases green food from almost all over the world (Americas, Europe, Asia). On my first visit,we picked a mango salad (to soothe my poor stomach's upset cart) and the spicy cha-cha (yam nuggets with veggies) and both were utterly delicious; light and flavorful and oh so satisfying! The mango salad (a seasonal dish) had lots of thinly sliced mango strings and the fruit was neither too ripe nor too tarty. The crushed peanuts and veggies complemented the sweet-sour taste of the mangoes. The spicy cha-cha, true to its name, packed a spicy punch in the crunchy red nuggets which was high on flavor and minimal on the fried,oily after taste. For the second time, a trio of us sampled even more food (Sizzling tofu, Szechuan strips and Pad thai) and all three items were finger-licking good! Special mention for the pad thai since it wasn't sweet-ish as is served in most Thai places. We finished off by sharing a soy vanilla flavored ice-cream akin to attaining perfect Nirvana! WILL BE BAAK (Arnie style)!

MONKEY METER

Overall impression:

Food:

Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Restaurant serves organic, vegan food. Need I say more?

 Interior/decor: Here comes the interesting part. The place takes its name very seriously, as is evident from the house shaped restaurant (it literally looks like a house from outside). In an attempt to create a relaxing place with a bit of everything (including a a piano for the musically inclined), the interior looks like a mish mash of a lot of funky objects (painted glass panels on windows being one of them). Surprisingly though, the sitting arrangement is anything but ornate (regular table and chairs), but overall the dining areas (there are two separated by the welcoming corridor in  between) are huge and roomy. I guess, they were striving for a comfort zone for people to chill out/find their own "zen" without being too ostentatious with distracting wall and furniture decor.

Service:  We had friendly and attentive servers, even when the place was packed. Pretty good service!

For more reviews and  what-nots on Vegetarian house, visit the link on YELP.

On Thin Crust

What: Gialina pizzeria

Why: For some out-of-the-world thin crust Neopolitan pizza (and other equally delectable Italian fare)

Where: Glen Park, San Francisco

Who: Chef/Owner Sharon Ardiana, named this restaurant after her beloved grandma, Nonni "Lina". Gialina captures the essence of her family and homeland Italy and her way of sharing her love for cooking and food with other hungry kindred souls.

BayMonkey two cents: What can I say about Gialina, except that it is indeed a hidden gem tucked away in the small, nondescript neighborhood of Glen park. I stumbled upon this culinary discovery one fine, ravenous day. Needless to say, I was not disappointed and since that day of accidental "stumbling" in, have often come back for repeats!Food wise, Gialina is another SF joint serving Italian food/pizza. But the similarity ends right there. The menu is small, yet peppered with a little bit of everything (pasta, seasonal roasts, salads). There are some amazing salads, such as the Farro salad, which is a playful creation of tastes and textures with the avocado, fennel, ricotta and dill, all vying for the attention of your taste buds and creating a flavorful harmony. But it is their thin crust Neopolitano pizza which takes the cake! Although I dig deep dishes and Brooklyn styles and what not, there is something absolutely heavenly about those 600 degC baked, thin wheat discs that are served with some of the most interesting toppings I've ever had. From the simple Margherita to the "wildly" creative wild nettles with pancetta (Italian bacon), each pizza is a culinary delight. My favorite is the Atomica (mushrooms, bell peppers, chillies and onions on a tomato sauce smeared base) which has a smoky, spicy, tangy kick to it. If you feel that thin crusts cheat you off the divinity of cheese, then you can always go for the uber-creative butternut squash pizza with generous dollops of ricotta (It was a little heavy and bland for my taste, but is definitely worth a try if you are in the mood for something different). Their pizza (or as they lovingly say, "pie") menu keeps on changing, so you might find other new varieties upon your visit. And finally, since the thin crust pizzas never make you feel bloated or too full at the end, there is always room for some dessert. For that, the decadent Tiramisu is highly recommended!

MONKEY METER

Overall impression:

Food:

Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Positively high, with salads (small or large size) and their mouth-watering pies.

Interior/decor: Very inviting indeed with burnt sienna/red walls with wood panels. Beautiful family pictures in black and white (I suspect they are of Sharon's family and her grandma) adorn the walls, giving the place a classy, vintage look. There is also bar-like seating for 2-3 at the table separating the eating area from the kitchen where you can perch on your bar stool and get a first hand look of the clay oven.

Service: Although almost always full (it is a wildly popular place, is small in size and does not take reservations), the servers are very nice and attentive. One of them has silvery white hair, a mysterious accent and somehow always reminds me of the white-haired twin brothers from the Matrix :-))

For details on Gialina (and for everything else under the sun), we have with us our faithful YELP.

A Southern Start

What: Criolla Kitchen

Why: For some lip-smacking Southern and soul (comfort) food

Where: Castro district, San Francisco

Who: Master mind of Chef Randy Lewis, who opened the restaurant in 2002. Hailing from New Orleans, Chef Lewis describes his food as southern memoirs served up with Nor Cal sensibilities.

BayMonkey two cents: Soul food, as the name implies, warms the soul. It is comfort food in a sense that it conjures beautiful memories of lost moments in time, be it of a warm sunny childhood day or the aroma of ma's kitchen or of a home far away. Criolla Kitchen was the lunch destination of choice on a crisp SF afternoon after a quick read of the SF chronicle's "Inside scoop" and a review check on the ever reliable "yelp.com". The restaurant was an easy find and although there was a small queue of hungry people outside, we did manage to get seats pretty quickly.
Now, on to the food. We started off with the yummilicious Yam Yam tater tots (golden orange nuggets) served along with a creamy aoili sauce that had a nice kick to it! The tater tots were crunchy on the outside and melt in the mouth soft on the inside. Slightly sweet, yet savory, they whetted our appetite enought to graduate onto entrees.
Then came our order of rice and black beans with fried chicken with a side of grits. The rice and beans were perfectly cooked and meshed really well and the fried chicken was just about perfect (not too deep fried or soggy soft).
My favorite though were the grits (my intrigue with grits started with "My Cousin Vinny"). The teeny weeny southern belle in me likes nothing more than her grits done right and she was not disappointed at all! The grits were buttery mushy intercepted by the coarseness imparted by the corn, but not overloaded with cheese.
Finally we stopped with the yummy and flavorful shrimp po' boy sandwich. Generous swigs of iced tea sweetened with simple syrup (came on the side in a fanciful container) helped wash down this delicious meal. Bursting at the seams, we did not wait for dessert (bread pudding or pecan pie), but will come back again for more of this southern fare.
MONKEY METER
Overall impression:



Food:

Green quotient (vegetarian friendly): Some appetizers and most side orders are vegetarian, but much cannot be said of entrees. I have been told that there exists a unicorn-like-myth of a vegan soul food restaurant in Oakland, so I guess there is fairness in this universe, after all.

Interior/decor: Clever use of the small space with clean wooden tables, small-ish wooden chairs. Forks and knives were prefolded with paper towels in glass jars on the tables (a nice touch!). The line of bottles standing on the kitchen ledge brought back sweet memories of Brasa, another amazing chow haven, in Minneapolis.

Service: OK. Could have been better in the sense that part of our order was kind of forgotten and we had to remind the server lady (she did apologize profusely though).

For more information (address, reservation policy, price listing, more reviews for statistical fairness and any other nit-picking detail that your cranium needs to fill on), you have YELP.