Fries from somewhere closer than Heaven

Sometimes some foods can be under rated in my opinion. Due to the fast food and junk food market, plenty of foods have been degraded from their original reputation. One, I believe are fried potatoes. A simple dish that can be made into one gourmet splendor with a few twists here and there.

Unfortunately, unlike the other writers, I do not carry a camera (or a camera phone) around when I walk into random eateries. So, I will have to bring you my summaries with little doodles I do from time to time. Either way, on this site, you only get images so let your creative juices and your imagination do its job!

Fries! What I will be rambling on this time will be about a really chill Belgian Fry place-- for those who went "you mean FRENCH fries?" Umm, no. Belgian fries are usually much larger in size and has the potato skin still on it. Don't worry. It's Belgian approved. (I asked my former co-worker from Belgium if these fries were like the ones from his home and he said it was slightly different but, it was very close!)

The shop "Pomme Frites" is located in Downtown, New York somewhat hidden between other food shops. But, during the winter, you cannot miss the line extending out of the shop with eager people trying to warm up with fresh, hot, steaming fries! But, what makes this shop more special than just a fries-only shop are their dips! They have these super unique dips that I swear. . . I can lick the cap of the container. (excuse the gross imagery!)

I've been going there once in a while for the past year and I've tried quite a few of their dips and I have to recommend the "curry ketchup", "Vietnamese pineapple mayo", "Sweet Mango Chutney Mayo", "Pomegranate Teriyaki mayo", and the "Peanut Satay". Even those who may be hesitant on the mayo, it doesn't have that typical mayo taste (especially the teriyaki one) so, maybe you can give it a shot. If anything, they do offer samples (when it's not busy) of dips so be adventurous and try a bit!

Also the serving portions are quite large so, my friend and I always end up sharing the smallest size and we almost never finish it. A quick, yummy, cheap snack on the road in the city. What more can you ask for?

Right From The Seoul

Living in another country has its perks - experiencing a different culture, taking part in the sights and possibly learning a new language! And while this is all great fun, you need to find food places that remind you of home~

In the little town of Ramstein-Miesenbach, I came across Seoul Restaurant. While the main cuisine is Korean, they also serve some Chinese and Japanese dishes.

I decided to go with the Spring Rolls with Duck meat for the appetizer, Beef Bulgogi with mixed vegetables for my main entree and Green Tea to wash it all down.

The tea arrived first and -culture shock- I came to notice that a packet of sugar came with it. At another establishment where I had ordered Jasmine tea, that place had also served my tea with a packet of sugar! Very interesting - I suppose the Germans don't favor the raw taste of tea? I love a nice blend of sugar and milk with my Breakfast tea, but never would a dare to sweeten up my Green or Jasmine tea! Regards, the tea in itself was sufficient to my need of a warm beverage.

The Spring Rolls came soon after. Not as much of a Duck flavoring as I was anticipating, but enjoyable nonetheless. Sweet and sour sauce was served alongside and added a nice little kick to the overall taste.


The Beef Bulgogi with mixed vegetables was by far my favorite part of the meal. The taste of the beef was right on the money and I simply couldn't help myself! It was exactly what I had hoped for~ The side dishes were equally satisfying and by the end of dinner, no take-away bag was needed!

To add to the appeal of this restaurant, I'll have you know that I revisited this place a second time to try out some other dishes! Thus far, this place definitely gets a thumbs up from me. Especially if you're like me - living away from home for a while - and craving your regular dosage of quality Korean meals. And like I mentioned earlier, they also serve some Chinese [Read: Spring Rolls with Duck meat is most likely derived from this cuisine] and Japanese dishes. While not the most elaborate, it's a nice additional feature.

A word of advice though, if you're lookin' to go on a weekend, be forewarned that the establishment is quite small [Capacity of around 50]. On the first go, I went on a Sunday evening and there wasn't much of a crowd. However, on Saturday evening, they are rather busy. So either get there early or possibly expect to wait a bit. Either way, hopefully you'll leave with a full stomach that was worth every euro!

Bird Pick: An amazing loose-leaf tea shop

Bird Pick shop photo taken by Spork Ninja

I love loose leaf teas. I prefer them 99% of the time over pre-bagged. And one weekend while trying a tea shop in Pasadena, CA, we stumbled on this place purely by accident.

It was an absolutely amazing find. For starters, the instant you walk in there the aroma is delectable and the shop is very aesthetically pleasing. All the charm of an old-style apothecary without any of the questionable herbs or fungi. Also, the cute fabric labels on each of the jars gave both a written description of the tea and added wonderfully to the ambiance of the place. They have several types of each tea (black, green, white, red) which are in different sections. They also have a section of various herbs that you can blend to make your own combination.

Best off all: They have a GREAT set up to make you a sample of any tea you want on the spot. This is a service they do for free.

All of the teas are sold by weight and the prices were reasonable. The staff didn't mind if you wanted a very small amount. There was no pressure to buy here, which was nice. And the staff was very helpful and friendly.

I ended up buying 8oz of a delightful lychee black tea with is both aromatic and tasty. It's surprisingly delicious with or without sugar and cream!

If you are in the Pasadena area and love tea, I recommend checking them out!
http://www.birdpick.com/

Aromatic Tea I Would Bathe In

Taken from official site

I was getting tired of my 10oz worth of english breakfast tea at work, so I've stopped by the local Safeway near work and this pretty canister caught my attention.  I didn't really know what "gypsy tea" is, but Zhena's Gypsy Tea's Ambrosia Plum is a blend of both white assam and indian green tea.  It's caffeine-free which I was feeling a bit skeptical about it (gotta have caffeine to stay awake at work!), but after reading it's pleasant description of it's scent I've decided to give it a try.

Zhena's Gypsy Tea - Ambrosia Plum White Tea

To my surprise, the aroma has a very relaxing, sweet scent and you can detect a whiff of the plum.  The taste is very smooth and earthy.  This would be a great drink to brew late at night.  Adding a bit of honey really goes well and something kids would enjoy if you want to avoid giving them any sugar rush from soda.  What's nice is that it's 100% organic, and even the canister is recyclable!  I usually have bad experience finding good over-the-counter tea and always buy them online, but this is one is a keeper.  You can find it in most local grocery stores (check the organic goods first) and can find it between $6 - $9 (this was on sale for $5.99).  You can also order it directly off their website if you have no luck finding this. 

I've just picked up their Coconut Chai (Black Tea) just recently at the store, so we'll see how that goes!

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Zhena's Gypsy Tea
www.gypsytea.com

Rib-licious: Finger-licking-licious BBQ

It's very rare to find an actual barbecue joint in East/South San Jose, especially when this part of the city is populated by Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants.  I've caught a glimpse of this place right down Tully Rd (East ramp off of highway 101) in the strip where they've just opened a few months ago.  

I've decided to take my chance and see if they'll win my carnivorous love for meat.  As I've stepped in, it was pretty empty (figured since it was non-rush hours) and small, but was clean and bright inside.  The menu mostly consist of combos and family dinner sets, and had so many options that I couldn't decide to get.  I've asked the staff what was their most popular dish and she suggested their baby back ribs & brisket combo.  Ended up choosing their $9 combo version with my choice of mild bbq sauce, potato salad and baked beans, then took my prize back home so I could share with my brother.  As I've opened the box, it was fully packed with food!  For less than ten bucks, this can be easily shared with 1-2 people. 

Combo #4 Brisket & Ribs w/ two sides + bread = $9

The ribs were okay.  Not dried and salty like other places I've had.  The brisket however, MOUTHWATERING.  It just melts in my mouth and it was so tender.  I wished they have given us more portion of the ribs, but they were plentiful on the brisket.  The sides were nothing out of the ordinary, but was satisfying and went well with the rest of the food drenched in sauce.  

So far, I'm impressed that they know how to cook their meats well. I'll know where to go whenever I get my urge for good barbecue within minutes of where I live!

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Rib-licious

1969 Tully Rd. #70

San Jose, CA 95122

Phone: 408-923-1322

www.rib-liciousbbq.com