Do you know the Way to Bolinas....

Bolinas is about an hour away from the City.

A hippie town. This is a haven for many writers, poets and artists.

This little town is famous for its exclusivity. There are no signs on the road on how to get there.

The people are nice but can be a bit hostile to outsiders. For example, while we were eating at this joint, a man (obviously a tourist) asked for an espresso. The restaurant employee replied, "the nearest place where you can get that is in Stinson". Which is about 15-20 mins drive.

Very pretty. On one side is the Pacific Ocean and on the other side is a lagoon.

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Anyway, we started our drive.

These images of the Golden Gate Bridge, I adore.

I don't see this often.

The sun is burning off the fog (not literally) - the sun is disrupting the fog formation process.

Ominous.

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Our on-the-go snack: Non-alcoholic pinot and gruyere cheese on a baguette.

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This was our first stop. Near Stinson Beach. A pub.

I'm sure you've had this beer - London's Pride. Smooth, creamy and malty English bitter.

"Cheers!"

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This is Stinson Beach.

My first time seeing it this crowded.

Last time I was there, it was deserted, foggy and cold.

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Bolinas

Our late lunch. I had chicken wings, and Mikey-Ike had fish (halibut) and chips.

His was delicious and mine was OK.

My guess is, these deers are regulars in this park.

"Happy cows grow in sunny California."

Ahhh... this is part of California where I'd very much like to live someday.

Good food.

Serene, beautiful surroundings...

El Salvadorian

Pupusa (w/ cabbage) revuelta and Negra Modelo on a Friday night.
Camille recommended this.

Wahhh... can't get it out of my head.

Think Globally, Eat Locally

Oh yes...

The Bay Area, especially San Francisco, we are in the forefront of the Sustainable Movement.
I don't know if you know this lady named, Alice Waters. She is from the Bay Area, she is one of the leaders who's been advocating for locally/organic produced food (since the 1960s).
Just a few months ago, the Slow Food Nation (to preserve the cultural cuisine and the associated food plants and seeds, domestic animals, and farming within an ecoregion - Wiki) had a huge celebration in the City. This organization started in Italy.

Almost all restaurants in the City serve local/organic food.
You would love the Bay Area - we are all about saving our beautiful planet, here.
We have farmers market three days a week (or maybe even more).
One of the goals, is try to help everyone eat locally grown produce without breaking the bank (although it can still be a bit expensive than the non-organic ones).
One of the standards, the produce has to be no more than 100 miles from San Francisco. Anything grown more than 100 miles is not local anymore. And of course, it has to be organic.

Also, there are people who's been advocating to (and they have succeeded) turn vacant lots into community garden.
My past post about Fort Mason garden is an example of that. That whole land used to be an army barracks, now they've turned it into a public area.



We love going to Whole Foods (a.k.a. Whole Paycheck). They are all about organic and good-for-your mind/body/soul 'items'. You'd adore this store.
Although, I'm not quite sure about it b/c it's becoming huge, like a corporate (the market is now sprouting all over the place). However, even though they're sprouting all over the place, they are still very commited to locally grown produce and supporting the community.


Another option are the Co-ops (Co-operative), which is "owned and controlled equally by the people who use its services or who work at it" - Wiki.

Some things that I concider to be important. (And you should too.)

Being a vegetarian.
Even if only
twelve years ago
I remember myself
loving meat.


Even if I can not
give up all of it
I try to do it
in the best way possible.
Or least harmful.
Organic is the way to go.

Seriously,
you do not want
all that antibiotic stuff
in your body do you?


Or the fertilizers?
I also do not want all
the run-off from the
farmlands in the oceans.


And I like to know where
my food comes from.
In the least minimum
of plastic wrapping
if possible.


Finally,
clean for me
is not more
chemicals down
the drain
onto the
shoulders of
the environment.

This is what makes me
sleep a little bit better
during the night.

(Even if I did miss Earth Hour.)

What about you,
care much?

YaMo "for the curious one"

(adore this sign. posted in the back of the menu)

While I'm waiting for my dear Brother.

Here's my take on Yamo (past post).

This coconut juice was refreshing and oh-so delicious!

Made me miss of my cousins back in the Philippines.

Yellow beef curry (burmese style). When I was reading the review on this hole-in-the-wall rest, people recommended this dish.
Very good for its price (inexpensive) - fresh and good portion. It was a bit bland, but clean tasting.

Tea leaf salad - this dish was an acquired dish.

Very good texture. Veggies and nuts. It had some sort of paste that I could not figure out.

Mikey-Ike liked it.

Mike-Ike and I, we exchanged our main dish. I had the beef and he had this (yellow curry chicken). I thought it was better than the beef. The beef had that gamey texture, which I'm not very fond of. But similar sauce base.

The other one is the shrimp spring roll. That was good. In high-end restaurants, that would've cost us, no less than $10.00, but at Yamo it was only $3.oo - bargain!

Overall, it was good but my taste buds weren't satisfied. It was fresh and 'homecooked', but not enough flavor going on.

Although, what I really liked about Yamo was how everything was made and cooked right in front of you. Sort of like your mum cooking right there in the kitchen and when it's finished, she'll serve it to you right after it left the stove.

And we got a kick out of one of the ladies, who was cracking the fresh coconuts with her knife - wow! You're being entertained and fed at the same time. They were super nice.

Come home to me on a Sunday night.

And we can make

some dinner,

listen to some music

and hug.

- E

Starstruck

So, Finally... After all these years of dreaming.

As Mikey-Ike and I were walking earlier at the Farmers Market. There was this guy on walkie-talkie, as we were walking passed him we heard him say "Bourdain is over at Blue Bottle".

I quickly turned around and looked at Mike. At the same time, we looked towards where the Blue Bottle kiosk is (we were just a few steps away from it) and saw immediately him - he was tall, about 6'4".

I wanted to get a better view of him. So Mikey-Ike and I, we went to the other side and I just stared at him - lol.

I was starstruck! Couldn't believe my luck and what I was seeing. Unbelievable! So surreal...

He was with his wife.

The wife seemed nice. She was smiling the entire time. She seemed not to mind the people who were trying to get his autograph and have a photo taken with him.

Some people had the nerve to go up to him and asked for his autograph and a photo with him.

I didn't.... To tell you the truth, I just wanted to gaze at him. Oh... I sooo admire him. He has the perfect job!

On with my surreal Saturday morning at my Ultimate Favorite Farmers Market.

So, they left the Blue Bottle kiosk and proceeded to (I'm assuming his crew) where his people were shooting. I wanted to go ahead and go about our agenda, but as we were walking, we ended up just a few feet away from him. I continued staring at him. I so badly wanted to take a photo with him, but I was just too shy. I didn't want to intrude on his moment with his wife - and at that time he was also sort of working. I contemplated, whether I should go up to him and ask to have a photo with him. But I decided not to and let him be.

Then as we were walking, Mike thought of something...

He suggested I get another copy of his book (the same book that I've been carrying all week, just in case I ran into him in the City). So, I ran over to the bookstore and we bought his book. At this time, blood was rushing into my head. Just freaking excited!

I have the book in my hand and I'm running to where we saw him before (w/ his crew). When I got there, he wasn't with them anymore. I stood opposite of where his crew were, while my Sweet-Lovely Mike, went around and tried looking for him; in case he was checking out the scene and the food stands.

After a few minutes, a guy that was part of his crew, looked at me and sort of noticed the book that I was carrying. I took the subtle hint and went up to him. I asked him, where AB was and he said... "oh, I'm sorry, he just left like 5-10 mins ago." I felt my spirit going down really fast.

I asked him again, if he could tell me where he's staying, just to get the autograph. He apologized again and said he couldn't tell me. He really looked apologetic.

Then I said, "oh I guess... that's life."

I've been waiting for that moment and I am grateful for having seen him even though I didn't get my book signed.
It is now a fun memory.

Sweet Breams

 Mikey-Ike has been raving about this ramen place down south (in San Mateo) 

The other day, he took me there.  

It was, by far, the best ramen I've ever had.

Not bland, at all.  It was fresh and delicious.  The meat didn't seem like it's been sitting on their counter for days - I know gross.

Japanese are hilarious and so-cute!

They're very innovative.

Fish school.

So basically, it's sort of like a waffle with filling inside.

Adorable isn't it...  I almost didn't want to eat it.  

*Remember - Yakitori!  =)))  I haven't found a place like that here =/  I thought the whole concept was brilliant.

Mike had the Scharffen Berger Chocolate filling.  And I had nutella.

You dig?

Blah...

We read in the newspaper that Anthony Bourdain is in Town.
Crazy me, I embarked on finding him.
I even dragged Mike - lol. Oh... how I love him.
But to No avail =///.

I searched High and Low, nada...

Will see this weekend.

Anyway, how are you, dubba...

Have you seen these...

This is me when I was - oh I don't know, 2 years old.

4-5 years old?

This is Reggie.  Isn't he a Cutie!

For the most part, my childhood was a happy one.

I was a handful though.