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…
Category: Food and Drink
Atamon Danish Preservative & Chinese Stereotypes (redux)
About a year ago, I posted about this strange product I saw in a Swedish super market called "Atamon." The store clerk had no idea what it was, and so I turned to the internets. Apparently "Atamon" is a Danish product that is used in jellies and pickles to preserve the freshness of the food…
The Joys and Pitfalls of Sobriety in a Drinking Culture
Here's my sister and her boyfriend drinking shots at Mua in Oakland, with the third shot meant for me sitting on the table untouched. We are all celebrating our respective birthdays. I haven't had a full glass of any kind of alcohol for many, many years. I wish I could say it's because of my…
Concession Stand with a Pig Cooking a Corndog
Yesterday I went to the reliably hokey Alameda County Fair in my hometown of Pleasanton, California. There is always a lot of fun and odd signage there. My favorite this year was a concession stand that featured a picture of a pig cooking a corn dog. As a friend pointed out, the pig could…
Turntable Cake by My Cousin Raf
Check out this hella dope cake created by my cousin Rafael Martin. The occasion was the opening of the offices of Verducci Entertainment in Berkeley, whose working spaces Raf also did the interior design for. Verducci specializes in providing DJs for all sorts of private and public affairs, so the turntable cake was the perfect…
Taste Test: Tteokbokki Snack from Seoul 7-Eleven
Tteokbokki is one of the most popular street snacks in Seoul, often being vended by older women in street carts everywhere you go, particularly late at night. Tteokbokki is essentially little cylindrical rice cakes that are cooked in a spicy red sauce, and served on plates with toothpicks for about $2-3. I don't really care…
Dancing and Eating My Way Through Seoul
I just got home from a fantastic quick trip to Seoul, Korea. Seoul has long been on my "bucket list" of places to visit in the world, but I admit I didn't have many preconceptions going into the trip. Here are the neatest things I experienced in the Korean capital. (Sorry, I have been busy traveling,…
Jiro Dreams of Sushi: A Delicious Portrait of Master Sushi Chef and His Sons
I just saw "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" last night in San Francisco, at a special showing with the director of the film David Gelb. What a perfect film for a foodie — a respectful and elegant portrait of a master chef Jiro Ono and his stern but loving relationship with his two sons. The…
Gregoire’s Potato Puffs : Tater Tots from Heaven
Gregoire's is my go-to take-out place when I want something French-y but not spendy. Situated in a claustrophobic storefront on Piedmont Avenue in Piedmont, Gregoire's churns out a surprising array of delicacies, from soups to sandwiches to full-dinners. After reading about all the raves on Yelp, I finally had to try Gregoire's crispy potato puffs….
Carl’s Jr’s Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich: Surprisingly Unterrible
I got home late from a night of dancing, with a serious need for an ice cream sandwich. Unfortunately all of the bodegas around my apartment in Oakland were already closed, and 7-11 was too far away. Then I noticed that the Carls Jr on the corner advertises that it now has "Hand-scooped Oreo…