Fat Kid Adventure #17: Chipotle (Mountain View)

(Originally posted on August 3, 2007)

Being a Chipotle virgin, I went with RaDa for a taste. This one, located in Mountain View, is actually a pretty cool place for being a Mickey-D spinoff. The joint features a Subway-like add-as-you-go system with a very simple menu to compile your meal. You can choose from burrito bowl, salad, tacos, and two other styles to start, then you pick the meat (chicken, beef, pork, steak, barbacoa), and finally you pick the salsa (four choices spanning mild-medium-hot). You can also add stuff like guac on the side for extra. I had the salad with steak and chilli pepper dressing with lettuce, corn, and pinto beans - semi-spicy but worth the amount and taste for $6.

http://www.yelp.com/biz_link?biz_id=FjvCF0UT0JLnera5ONsFOw
http://www.chipotle.com/

Fat Kid Adventure #16: L. Woods (Mountain View)

(Originally posted on August 3, 2007)

Had a simple but fantastic dinner at L. Woods in Mountain View couple nights ago with RaDa. We both had a giant steak with a side of salad. The steak - personally dubbed "Triple-T" for tender, tangy, and terrific - features the secret recipe of the infamous D. Butla. The salad featured a pear champagne dressing which matched the steak's tangy-ness quite nicely but also comes with a sweetness that freshens the entire salad. This dinner was priceless. ;D

Fat Kid Adventure #15: Cheesecake Factory (Palo Alto)

(Originally posted July 26, 2007)

Snack-drank at Cheesecake Factory in Palo Alto - Frozen Iced Mango - yay! $5 drink in a tall glass with red swirls inside a orange-colored smoothie. Nice and sweet, and of course thick. Yay!

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz_link?biz_id=LtNZGU_MpfJ8Q-CkPc--Ng

Fat Kid Adventure #14: Whole Foods (Redwood City)

(Originally posted on July 26, 2007)

Went out to lunch with workfolk at the Whole Foods Market in Redwood City today - my very time in the market and never knew they had this deli section. Anyway, it's like all you can eat at $8/lb. Attempting to be healthy for one day out of the week, I got me a salad. The salad decor selection is enormous - everything you'd want to put on a salad is there. Matter of fact, if you just think the thing you want, it'd probably pop up out of nowhere to delight you. Did not look too closely at the carnivorous section, but I know it stacks up the cost quick. The dessert selection is probably the most incredible. I don't even know the names but it does not matter - point and nod works wonders. I got all these fruit tarts and tiny pies ~ $7 - delish = a must-try! Semi-expensive but worth the quality.

http://www.yelp.com/biz_link?biz_id=hc9O7Y9D61-vZnDCZTmz7w
http://www.wholefoods.com/

Fat Kid Adventure #13: Carpaccio (Menlo Park)

(Originally posted July 25, 2007)

Went to Carpaccio in Menlo Park for lunch today with long-time buddyfriend J.Rhodes. The atmosphere was nice and quiet - felt quite upperclass actually since we were surrounded by apparently well-mannered oldfolk over 60-80 years old. However, lunchtime brings in some local young professionals - for example, there was a table of 8 Chinese people. Anyway - complimentary bread with balsamic vinegar was pretty standard. I ordered the capaccio for which the joint is famous for and a penne al pesto. Jenn ordered the minestrone soup, which I had been calling "mine-strone" (as opposed to "mini-stro-nee") for the last decade. The carpaccio was pretty good - topped Italian mustard, capers, onion, and lemon - $9. The penne was okay - maybe a bit too creamy/cheesy for my taste - $12. Fast and friendly service - not too crowded at lunch.

http://www.carpaccios.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tYQcVu0HOQXKBU039QAGdg

Fat Kid Adventure #12: Yokoyama (Redwood City)

(Originally posted July 24, 2007)

For Temp Tuesday, Yokayama was our destination. Though a bland storefront, the inside is decent - what you would expect in a Japanese joint. I had the Dragon Roll ($11) - it was downed pretty quickly but it was hearty. Eel on a roll filled with avocado and crabs. Notable mentions include the lunch special combos and the combination boxes. They were really flexible with splitting the tabs.

http://www.yelp.com/biz_link?biz_id=Iq59XgkdwZpFl_YejpqpPg

Fat Kid Adventure #11: Roy's (SF - SOMA)

(Originally posted July 21, 2007)

Went for a late 3-course meal at Roy's in San Francisco, which specializing in tasty Hawaiian fusion cuisine, and racked up the most expensive personal tab thus far. First of all, the setup is bar and restaurant so it is definitely pretty loud. The servers are super nice and polite, and the wait is not terribly long. Now the food... Appetizer: Island Style Ahi Poketini (ahi poke in a martini glass served with avocado and wasabi aioli) and Soft-shell Crab Salad (entire soft-shell crab atop giant cabbage leaves with walnuts and bleu cheese) - Ahi Poketini definitely takes home the cake. Entree: Roy's Classic Trio - $30 (a sampler of the Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish with soy vinaigrette, Roasted Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi with soy vinaigrette/ponzu/spicy soy mustard, and Hibachi Grilled Salmon with citrus ponzu). This dish is definitely worth trying since you get 3 in 1 - butterfish is the pimpest fish I have ever tasted because it literally sort of melts in your mouth. Dessert: Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé with splattered raspberry sauce and vanilla ice cream. Bill total was $108 before tax and tips - a split down the middle with Rachel makes it $70 total per person. Unlike Zitune, this joint definitely serves awesome food in reasonable quantities, but the check is kind of scary - just a tad. Plus a $20 parking fee because it was a Friday night in SF and i was desperate... Try this restaurant, but be ready to break your pocket.

http://www.roysrestaurant.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/iWUSAD2WALWNFF0pPiomHA