My sister and some of my cousins and I went out to the Alameda County Fair yesterday for some old-timey fun. My family has been going to the Alameda County Fair for most of our lives. What's remarkable is how little is has changed over the decades. It still has the same slightly sketchy…
Category: Food and Drink
Ruby Jewel’s Dark Chocolate Cookie, Mint Ice Cream Sandwich
Yesterday I sampled one of Ruby Jewel's ice cream sandwiches, which my local Andronico's happens to carry: organic mint ice cream and two dark chocolate cookies. In the notes on the packaging, I learned that Portland, Oregon based Ruby Jewel tries to be a responsible small business: We source our ingredients from as many local,…
La Fonda’s Epic “Cubana” Sandwich: Everything But the Fregadero de Cocina!
Mexican tortas are one of my favorite sandwiches in the world. Something about the combination of latin-style meats, veggies and cheese on a toasted bun just works. La Fonda in the Inner Sunset is one of the better Mexican spots in the area, with the usual assortment of burritos and tacos, and some atypical offerings…
My First Vine Video: How I Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee (video)
How I make the perfect cup of coffee #aeropress vine.co/v/bJMqY5ni32U — rik panganiban (@rikomatic) January 27, 2013 Vine is kind of silly. But I thought this turned out pretty well.
Ice Cream Sandwich Inspired by Italian Architect Renzo Piano
I just discovered at my local market an artisinal, architecturally-inspired ice cream sandwich line called… wait for it… Coolhaus. The name "Coolhaus" is, according to their website, a triple-entendre: Bauhaus, an influential modernist design movement of the 1920′s and 30′s. Rem Koolhaas, the famous Dutch Architect and Theorist who challenged the mantra "Form follows function" "Cool…
Umami Mart: an Adorable Japanese Foodie Shop in Downtown Oakland
My friend Kayoko and her partner Yoko launched a couple of years ago Umami Mart, a foodie-oriented store focusing on Japanese products and other fine barware, glassware and kitchen gadgets. I finally stopped by their downtown Oakland shop this weekend and was very pleased with what I saw. Inside the shop, they have a carefully…
Beyond Buffets: Less is More
Here's a picture of a typical buffet spread at my family's gatherings. For most of my life, I've loved a good buffet meal. The idea of endless choices of dishes and heaping plates of food has been a fantasy of mine. A lot of this comes from my family, who throw lavish potluck meals…
Gordon Webster: Swing Bandleader, Supreme Coffee Geek
Of all the things I expected to be doing last night, making espresso shots at 2am with one of the most popular lindy hop bandleaders in the country was not what I anticipated. Gordon Webster is a much celebrated swing bandleader based in New Jersey who travels the world sharing his unique take on swing…
The Gatsby Summer Afternoon: Visiting a World without Plastic
The Gatsby Summer Afternoon is a lavish 1920s era lawn party put on by the Art Deco Society of California. Hundreds of vintage hounds gathered yesterday on the lawn of the elegant Dunmuir estate in Oakland to be transported briefly into another time, bathed in warm sunshine and fresh air. I've been to "prohibition-era"…
Q Ginger: My New Favorite Ginger Beverage
I have a six pack of Reeds ginger beer sitting untouched in my fridge. It's a decent beverage, but I can't drink it anymore after having "Q Ginger," billed as "a superior ginger ale." That reads to me like up-sell marketing, but in fact I have to agree. It's the best ginger beverage I've ever…