ooh ooh ahh ahh yum

I've always thought that brunches were kind of odd...mainly because I usually get up too early to appreciate it (I'm practically starving by the time it comes around!!) Brunch foods are also kind of odd because they are essentially really large breakfasts but not small lunches. For example, it's permissible to have french toast at brunch but not macaroni and cheese. Yes. I think that's the general consensus haha. But since we have been planning on going to Guerilla Cafe for several weeks now, I decided to force myself to sleep in and it was well worth it :)

Guerilla Cafe is located in North Berkeley across the street from one of my favorite places: elephant pharmacy. The outer decor is sparce but the insides are bustling! Maybe it's because of the small eating area or because you can see the people cooking and plating your food. In any case, there is a warm and comforting ambiance and the place smells amazing! They have a special "Waffle of the Day" but we opted out of it...mainly because I'm afraid of poppy seeds and oranges....and those were the 2 flavors. So instead, we ordered the Mediterranean Egg Plate and the Cinammon Challah Toast with a spicy hot chocolate and a coffee for mother dearest.

Let's just say that the camera lasted until when the hot chocolate came and then all was put away to dig in....guerilla style! ...read on!...

ni's 21st bday. part 2

part 2 on the actual day DECEMBER 30, 2008!!!!

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the menu:

• Sharkfin soup


• Scallops and french bread soaked in scallop juice


• Prime Rib and potatos


• champagne because she can


• apple tart

ni is quite the carnivoire haha with expensive taste. I reckon this meal was worth...actually i'm not that good with money so i can't really say. but it was probably a lot better of an eat at home than at a restaurant! Nothing beats mom's cooking :D


the day began pretty well too! we went to sf, did a little shopping for her while she ice skated in embarcadero with a friend. We had to rush back though to begin cooking the Prime Rib.But the meal actually began a few days earlier!the shark fin soup had been brewing for a couple of days already so the chicken stock was rich and the soup very very flavorful. Sharkfin soup is quite good and warm. :D






And of course! Dessert inspired by Cheryl and Charlie's visits! Everytime they come over for dinner, they bring a tart from La Farine; a little bakery in Albany. Ni usually has an ice cream cake for her bday...a tradition that lasted maybe a little over half of her life/a decade/a really long time! She was really funny in picking the tart. The part that she really likes is the custard so she didn't really mind what the fruit topping was, so long as it had the custard filling! I liked the tart too and we also had some Godiva chocolate. it was a good bday dinner :D




HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINILI!!! ...read on!...

ni's 21st bday. part 1

Ni turned 21 this year on December 30th. and it was a saga that began a day before. We trekked out to Berkeley (bus+bart+feet) to eat at Gregoire, a fancy take-out eaterie in the gourmet ghetto up in North Berkeley. It's infamous for its potato puffs and it always smells really good. I used to stop and sniff whenever walking back to the apt after class. Their menu changes monthy and December seemed like a pretty tasty month (although January looks just as good...if not more!)

We also wanted to try it out to get the cute little takeout boxes :D. The only bad thing is that there isn't any real sitting area around the actual place but not to worry! there is a little food court about a couple of blocks away so we went up there to eat.

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Actually deciding what to eat was a bit difficult. The potato puffs was a no brainer but I'll have to admit that it's overrated. We also got the chanterelle mushroom quiche and the smoked salmon, fingerling potato salad wrapped in grilled lavash. see the yummyness?!


it actually tasted really REALLY good! and the serving sizes were very appropriate (we actually ordered too much) both the quiche and the salmon wrap were pretty rich and we both decided that Gregoire deserves a trip #2...but we will have to hold off for a while; we just got back from a trip to Vancouver and had a bit too too much to eat in general.




too bad the cupcake shop was closed too! they were on their holiday break or else i would have bought ni a cupcake for her birthday. i think she enjoyed our lunch though. we were very full and walked all around berkeley to help digest haha ...read on!...

a shortcut to mushrooms

Mimi gave us a mushroom log to cultivate our own shitake mushrooms! after several days of misting and other mushroom-ly activities, we have harvested our first two!







and then we sauteed them and ate them! they were quite delicious....now we have to dry out the mushroom block for two more weeks before we can begin the cycle again. Mimi says that there are usually more spores in the second harvest. I'm excited to see how it turns out! ...read on!...