A Must Try Food Truck: Turf N Surf Po' Boy in Austin

om nom notes rating: 5 stars

This food truck served what ended up being my favorite meal in Austin, TX this last trip. In a sea of food trucks - Turf N Surf Po' Boy stands out from the rest because of it's unique local, fresh food menu and intentionally dilapidated but charming "truck". They had quite the selection of responsibly sourced seafood, beef, pork and veggies - but po' boys are truly the star. This truck is not to be missed.

I have to add that the folks here are the NICEST people. They took the time to recommend selections, and made it a point to tell me that I could order anything exactly the way I wanted. So of course I did. :) They were also very apologetic when they didn't have some menu items like the guacamole or etouffee.

While their blackened or fried shrimp po boys are the crowd favorite, I chose to do the grilled crawfish po-boy with extra tomatoes and coleslaw on the side. 

It was AMAZING. Between the crusty and just right grilled multi-grain bread (different from your standard french-style baguette), the seasoned just right crawfish, the fresh tomatoes & mesclun greens, and the addition of thick sliced pickles - every bite's mingle of flavors made me so happy. 

While you would think might be a heavy, greasy sandwich - the greens, pickles, and squeeze of line added the unexpected freshness that made this monstrosity of a sandwich seem almost delicate. It was so good that I must have eaten the entire thing in 5 minutes. The coleslaw is very creamy (courtesy of Mr. Mayo), so I'm glad I got it on the side. 

You can also get any of the Po' Boys in the form of 2 tacos, or a salad (but really - who would want to do that?). I got to try a bit of the blackened shrimp taco, but I have to say that the po-boy with the amazing bread is better and significantly more memorable. Blackened shrimp was very good though.

The cilantro fries on their own are worth getting, just note that it's a huge portion and enough to share between at least 4 people. Curiously enough, they reminded me of the fries from "The O" (The Original Hot Dog Shop) in Pittsburgh - about a medium cut, but fried till crispy.  I had heard that you can get etouffee fries, but sadly they were out of gravy. Next time…

See more pictures at: http://on.fb.me/NIkzeh

Quick Notes:

1. Love that the truck/trailer was built out of 90% recycled/reclaimed material - it started as a shipping container!
2. There is a shaded seating area, but it's open so still hot!
3. They take credit cards.
4. Learn more about the history of the po' boy.
5. They sometimes are open outside of their normal hours, just check their Facebook page for updates
• Normal Hours:
  Mon-Thu 11 am - 3 pm

  Fri 11 am - 3 am

  Sat 12 pm - 3 am

Grilled Crawfish Po' Boy - $10

Grilled Crawfish Po' Boy: grilled crawfish, mesclun greens, pickles, red onion, tomatoes, and coleslaw (on the side)

Cilantro Fries - $3

Cilantro Fries: fresh cut potatoes, salt, cilantro, ketchup

Turf N Surf Po' Boy Trailer Truck

Turf N Surf Po Boy Food Truck: at 4th and Congress

Turf N' Surf Po Boy

177 Yelp reviews as of 7/13/12

Bagels that are Worth the Calories

om nom notes rating: 5 stars


Ever since I found out that bagels are easily 300-400 calories for a bagel itself, I generally stopped eating bagels. However, I recently discovered House of Bagels in San Carlos. These traditional New York style bagels are amazing and I have to use my utmost control to limit my intake to only 1 bagel per week. These bagels are worth it.


House of Bagels is a franchise in the SF Bay area, but every store controls their own menu. What is consistent is how they make their bagels. Made fresh daily, HOB bagels are boiled first, and then baked on brick. This creates the soft, moist but chewy interior, and a tougher, flavorful crust exterior - just the way a bagel should be. The right texture for both the inside and outside of these bagels is what makes the difference. Note: these bagels aren't as large as Panera or Noah's/Einstein Bro's, but more than make up for it in taste and quality.


While I can easily eat any of these bagels on their own, they taste even better with HOB's large selection of schmears (in between normal and whipped and usually available in lite) or bagel sandwiches (available with your preferred bagel). My favorite bagel go-tos are either egg or jalapeno which I get with lite cream cheese on the side. Or, if I'm feeling particularly indulgent, I go for the "Hamlet" bagel omelet (#3) on jalapeno. Ham, fluffy egg, and american cheese on a bagel with a little bit of kick, it's the best way to start a weekend.


This family owned franchise store cranks out an amazing number of orders every day (including perfecting a method to cook the egg exactly as needed for the bagel breakfast sandwiches!). They're incredibly efficient to help meet the needs of the customers who just want to stop in, pick up, and get on with their day. Don't take this efficiency as poor service please. They work hard and are totally pleasant if you are!


Tip: They only make specific quantities of bagels each day and will close early (before 2pm) if they totally run out! I usually go around 10am on a weekend and have all my choices still. 


See more pictures at http://on.fb.me/PlX3r5


Hamlet Bagel Omelet - $3.85

Hamlet: jalapeno bagel, ham, egg & cheese

Bagel Varieties - $0.95/each or $9.25/dozen, Premium $1.10/each

Bagels: chocolate chip, cranberry, cinnamon raisin, blueberry, garlic, egg, jalapeno, sourdough, pumpernickel, whole wheat, sun dried tomato, salt, rye, onion, all in one, poppy, sesame, plain
Premium Bagels: cinnamon sugar, cheddar & jack cheese, jalapeno cheddar & jack, asiago

House of Bagels - San Carlos

60 yelp reviews as of 7/5/12

http://

What is a Kouign Amman?

om nom notes rating: 5 stars


It's only the best baked good ever! It's travesty that I have not had this delectable Breton, French pastry until this most recent trip to New York. Why don't they have more places that make this in California, especially in the Bay Area!


In short, a Kouign Amman is a baked specialty by the Bretons from Brittany, France. In Breton, the traditional language spoken in Brittany, Kouign means "cake" and Amman means "butter" (pronunciation: koo-ween ah-mon). 


The result? A "butter cake" that's flaky, buttery with a little salty goodness and a crunchy caramelized crust  all in one delicious treat. Literally, the kouign-amman is made by folding together layers of salted butter, sugar, and bread dough. It's almost like a croissant, puff pastry, and a palmier all in one - and it certainly is at the top of my list. It even beats the amazing Williams-Sonoma Croissants. That's saying a lot.


There are several places in New York that carry Kouign Ammans, but it is a signature at the Dominique Ansel Bakery in the South Village lovingly named the DKA ("Dominique's Kouign Amman"). The DKA along with the Perfect Little Egg Sandwich, complete with a garden sitting area made for a delightful breakfast visit. The only issue was that I really wanted to try everything on the menu, I must go back.


Yes the price was a bit steep, but these little treats take a lot of effort to make. Kudos to David Lebovitz and The Purple Foodie for taking that challenge on! As for me, I'll need to start the search for these around San Francisco - even if that means trekking all the way over to the Starter Bakery in Oakland, CA. 


I promise I'll come by to your store often if anyone starts selling these on the Peninsula :)


DKA - $5.25

Dominique's Kouign Amman: butter, salt, sugar, and flour

DKAs: a whole basket of them!

 Perfect Little Egg Sandwich - $5.00

Perfect Little Egg Sandwich: egg, herbs, butter, on a brioche bun

Dominique Ansel Bakery

71 Yelp reviews as of 6/15/12

(212) 219-2773

http://dominiqueansel.com/

The Ambiguous "Onion Soup" IS French Onion Soup

om nom notes rating for onion soup: 5 stars


So Blue Ribbon Brasserie's dishes to fame are seemingly the Beef Marrow & Oxtail Marmalade and Fried Chicken, but sadly I did not have a chance to try these out. I'm sure it's delicious though and you can read all about it on Yelp. Next time...


That being said, I did want to share is that the ambiguous sounding "onion soup" on the menu is in fact French Onion soup, complete with lots of crusty but melty cheese with toasty bread edges. The price is a bit steep, but I've heard that it's one of the best french onion soups in New York City - and it's certainly shareable. Don't ignore it (which is what I did while reading the menu)


I love crispy bits so appreciated the large shallow bowl it came in to maximize the crunch and ooze:) 


Tips: I've heard from NY natives that this place is a great place for celeb sightings and the mustard here is great! Used it with my Ham & Cheese Sandwich (Cotta de Parma & Swiss).


Onion Soup - $14.50

Blue Ribbon Brasserie Onion Soup

Blue Ribbon Brasserie

412 Yelp reviews as of 6/9/12

NY Chicken and Rice (+Lamb) - Different But DELICIOUS

om nom notes rating for Sammy's Halal Cart: 5 stars


If you've never had chicken and rice from a food cart/stall/truck/stand in New York, you are missing out. While Sammy's Halal is not the same as the famed chicken and rice from The Halal Guys at 53rd and 6th, it IS OM NOM NOM AMAZING and a much closer option if you're in the SoHo/Lower West Side area. It is different though and there's almost more of an Indian twist to these platters. Treat it as such and you won't be disappointed.


Biggest differences between Sammy's and The Halal Guys are noted below:

• $5 for an order vs. $6 (53rd and 6th) - It is a touch smaller of an order
• Rice is brown vs yellow and has a stronger cinnamon flavor vs. turmeric, plus it seems to be of a longer grain
• Chicken is cooked with onions and peppers and is less 'shredded'
• Lamb is more like cubed gyro meat - Note: I do like the Halal Guy's lamb better as it has more crispy bits
• You can add chickpeas at no extra cost - these are a little bit spicy and very well spiced.
• In addition to white sauce and red sauce, there is a green sauce available
• There is only 1 Sammy's cart

If you've never had chicken and rice from a food stand, you must do so immediately even if it's from a random stand - it is always delicious. Sammy's and The Halal Guys at 53rd and 6th just bring it to the next level. 

Chicken + Lamb and Rice Combo - $5.00

Chicken + Lamb (Gyro) and Rice Combo: chicken, lamb cubes, rice, lettuce, white sauce, red sauce (harissa based), green sauce (cilantro based), and chickpeas

Sammy's Halal Food Truck: on the NE corner of 6th avenue and W. 4th street on the west side of Washington Square Park. get off at the christopher st. - sheridan sq stop if you're taking the 1 train, or at the W. 4th street stop if you're taking the A, B, D, E, F, or M trains. It is right in front of the Chase Bank at 340 6th avenue, New York NY.

Sammy's Halal Menu: chickpeas and green sauce can be added at no extra charge if you ask for them. note - they only charged me $5 for a platter when i asked for half chicken/half gyro.

Sammy's Halal Food

52 Yelp reviews as of 5/8/12

Buying IPPIN Junmai Sake to Drink Hot At Home

om nom notes rating: 5 stars

I need to brush up on my sake deciphering skills so I know what sake to buy at the local Japanese grocery like Suruki or Marukai (also available for purchase online). Happened to get this bottle only because it was labeled "for hot sake" and ended up loving it. This bottle of Junmai Sake IPPIN was very very very very good so I may just stick to this bottle when I can find it! 

Junmai just means that the sake is pure and contains no additives for taste, color, or alcohol content. Usually this also means you're drinking a premium sake.  
 

Heat 1 cup in the microwave at 1 minute for hot sake and then pour into your appropriate sake bottle. Or, you can do it the 'actual' wave by sticking the sake bottle into a pot of hot water until heated.
 
IPPIN Junmai Sake (720 mL) - $21.99

Ippin Junmai Sake: Yamadanishiki Polished to 60%, this sake has a creamy texture and great balancing acidity. From the Kanto region of Ibaragi, it has hints of roasted root vegetables, eggplant, mushrooms, and toast that linger on the palate for a medium to long finish - KL Wines

Love the Marukai and Suruki japanese supermarkets! :)
 

A Light But Decadent Tiramisu'

om nom notes rating for tiramisu: 5 stars

While 54 Mint has a lovely dinner menu with fresh house made pastas, tasty specials of the day like bunny, and a decent italian wine list - the star of the meal was the Tiramisu'.

Recommended hands down with no questions asked by the bartender (apologies I forgot her name) whose eyes lit up as she spoke about this dessert selection, I had to try it even though I was desperately full. She said that it was light but rich at the same time, and probably unlike other tiramisu I've had. And it was. I gobbled up every fluffy bite.

Go there, sit at the bar, get some wine, some tiramisu - and it'll be a good night. (Tip: there are hooks under the bar, just don't forget your stuff after you're dizzy on wine and sugary goodness)

See the full dessert menu

Tiramisu - $7

Tiramisu': espresso-soaked lady fingers with chocolate, Marsala, and mascarpone

54 Mint - Vineria Ristorante

458 Yelp reviews as of 5/24/12

Neighborhood: SOMA

(415) 543-5100

http://www.54mint.com

The Best Iced (But Not Iced) Coffee - Chilled Cold-Brewed Coffee

om nom notes rating for Chilled Cold-Brewed Coffee: 5 stars

One of my favorite places for coffee in Palo Alto, no wait - the Bay Area, no wait - in California, i mean - ever in the world exists inside a small running store called Zombie Runner (no joke!) on California Avenue in Palo Alto, California.

Always consistent, and always phenomenal - each cup from "Cafe Zombie" is made with care and exactly how they want to make it (don't even try to customize beyond the options that they give you). While I love the lattes and the freshly roasted Zombie Runner beans ($12.95/lb), this post will feature the Chilled Cold-Brewed Coffee.

They don't serve the watery iced coffee so don't bother asking for it. They do however have something 800+ times better: their only cold drink (but with no ice), the signature Chilled Cold-Brewed Coffee for $3. While you do have the option to get it mixed with caramel, chocolate or vanilla, why would you want to ruin such a delicious cup?

And how is this chilled cold-brewed coffee made? Apparently they brew one of their ZombieRunner coffees for 24 hours at room temperature, then they double filter the coffee, then chill it, then mix it with your choice of cold 2% or whole milk, and serve with no ice.

Trust me - you'll want to try it. There is almost always a line at Zombie Runner - but it's because they care enough to make each cup perfect. It's totally worth it.


Tip: Load up a Zombie Runner card. You may think it's not worth the trouble, but believe me - 10 drinks here comes by quicker than you think. At $4 a latte and $3 a cold coffee, i'll take any free drink :)

Chilled Cold Brewed Coffee - $3.00

Chilled Cold Brewed Coffee: coffee, 2% milk and that's it!

Zombie Runner's Cafe Zombie Drink Menu - Don't try to order anything that's not on here!

Zombie Runner

133 Yelp reviews as of 5/20/12 (Note: Some of these reviews are irrelevant as they are for the actual running store)

(650) 325-2048

http://www.zombierunner.com

The BEST Turkey Leg Ever! - by Disney

om nom notes rating: 5 stars


One of the best (and economical) options for food from Disneyland is the turkey leg! The price has gone up over the last couple of years, but it is still worth it at $8.99 for a 1.5lb leg. Where else can you get a moist, juicy, tender, smoky and ginormous turkey leg that can easily be shared with 2+ people (that you are ok with sharing germs with of course)? Plus - are you really going to be able to replicate the salt-water cured, slow-cooked in a smoker for 6+ hours process? SO DELICIOUS!!!

Tips: Make sure you bring lots of napkins and have some water/quencher on hand. It gets salty! Also - if they offer you a tray/carton, take it! This is good to have on hand as you remove the tough turkey cartilage/bones and/or skin (i know i know - blasphemous!)

Where to find these turkey legs?

Disneyland

Main Street Roundabout - If you're facing the Walt/Mickey statue, the turkey leg cart is on the left side, close to across the entrance area to Frontierland. This is a really good place to get a turkey leg if you're waiting around for the fireworks or parade. You can also get chimichangas and (buttered or chili-lime) corn here. 

Side note: Chimichangas are decent at $5.49, well portioned. My family really enjoys the chili-lime corn ($4.39) but it's messy!

Frontierland - This is close to the entrance of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It used to be a cart, but has actually been turned to a permanent 'stand' to the right of the ferry landing/line area.

California Adventure

Hollywood Pictures Backlot - There's a cart off the main street as you turn into the alley that leads you to Muppet Vision 3D. Chimichangas and corn here too.

Disclaimer: Disneyland/California Adventure clearly can change their plans at any time so these locations are current as of May 2012. These turkey legs (of the same yummy goodness) are also available at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida.

Disney Turkey Leg - $8.99

Smoked Turkey Leg

Disneyland Turkey Leg Cart off Main Street

Learn more about why the turkey leg is so tasty from Food Network's Unwrapped: 

And just in case your curious about the calorie count, i've included it but don't let that stop you. it's totally worth it!

Disneyland Turkey Leg Cart

Yelp reviews as of 5/15/12

Afghan Food in San Carlos

om nom notes rating: 5 stars


Just had official Afghan food at Kabul Afghan Cuisine in San Carlos, CA for the first time and it was delicious! Wonderful service by the owner's daughter Michelle who took the time to explain her favorites. Lamb dishes were highly recommended but her favorite by far (since she was a child) was the "Sabsi Challaw" (lamb & spinach). For the veggie dishes, apparently the customer favorite was "Challaw Kadu" (pumpkin topped with yogurt). As always - the combination platter was the way to go for me to be able to try everything. Portion sizes were also hearty - enough for 2 with a little bit for leftovers. 

I think everyone gets served a simple salad to start their meal. Make sure you ask for the dressing on the side if you like light dressing as they put a lot of it on.

Michelle surprised us with a complimentary "Firnee" dessert which was so light and delicious. Highly recommended if you like pudding. Make sure to save room!

Sabsi Challaw - $14.95 

Very tender and well cooked lamb chunks! sort of like saag (without the heaviness and without the paneer), but with a subtle flavor profile difference. 

Sabsi Challaw: Cubes of lamb cooked with fresh spinach, onions, and garlic, served with challaw (white rice)

Vegetarian Platter - $12.95

I went for the 3 below as Michelle said the sabsi option (spinach) would taste pretty similar to the sabsi lamb dish above.

• Kadu - Sauteed pumpkin topped with yogurt
• Badenjah (My Favorite!) - Stew of eggplant cooked with onions, tomatoes, and herbs, topped with yogurt. Would reco getting this without the yogurt
• Gulpi - Stew of cauliflower cooked with tomatoes, onions, fresh ginger and fine spices

Vegetarian Platter: A combination of three items (my choices: Kadu, Badenjah, Gulpi), served with rice. 

Firnee - (will check for the price next time!)

Pudding made of milk, cardamon, rose water, and sliced almonds, topped with pistachios

Sorry I have no picture as it looked so delicious I went straight for a bite :( Make sure to stir everything together to get the almonds/pistachios/spices distributed throughout.

Kabul Afghan Cuisine

Yelp reviews from 05/14/12

(650) 594-2840

http://www.kabulcuisine.com/
Menu

NOTE: There is also a Kabul Afghan Cuisine in Burlingame I believe with the same menu. Can you believe there are 2 on the peninsula? yay!