Friday, August 15, 2008

Gaesung

I go to San Jose several times a year to get my fix on some Vietnamese food and visit friends. When I'm there for an extended time, I long for a taste of home and so does my baby: Korean food.  I found this restaurant in the bay area when I was really craving some soon du bu.  What a good find.

Panchan   $Free with meal
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Korean side dishes starting with top left going clockwise: marinated shredded beef (tasted like juicy, tender beef jerky), spicy pickled radish (my baby and my personal favorite), kimchee (spicy pickled Chinese cabbage), bean sprouts (lightly steamed sprouts seasoned with sesame oil, salt, sesame seeds), kelp salad (seasoned thinly cut kelp)

Bin Dae Duk    $11.50 approximately   
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Bin Dae Duk: mung bean pancake with seafood, vegetables and topped with bacon. It was OK, probably wouldn't order it again

Mushroom Soon Du Bu   $9.50 approximately for lunch
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The main dish, Soon Du Bu: a hot pot of soft tofu with your choice of meat, veggies and spice level.  They always give you a raw egg on the side that you could add.  As you can see I chose to add it.  Mmm...more protein.  I ordered the mushroom soon du bu mild (because I was sharing this with my baby, otherwise I would order it medium to spicy).  I don't know if it's because I've ordered it mild the two times I've been here but the soon du bu tastes really refreshing (I know, odd choice of word for a hot pot).  I could taste all the subtle flavors of the broth and ingredients.  My baby and I throughly enjoy this place.  Their side dishes and soon du bu are good.  My girlfriend ordered Mool Naeng Myun and the Bin Dae Duk which she enjoyed but I have had much better.  Gaesung House of Tofu is a tofu house so I would stick to the soon dubu for a sure thing.

Gaesung House of Tofu
2089 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95050
(408) 248-TOFU (8638) 

Yum Meter: **

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Portola Cafe

I love the Monterey Bay Aquarium! Now there's even more to love, Portola Cafe. The aquarium itself is no longer the only draw.  This yummy cafe & restaurant is ingenious; feeding hungry aquarium visitors quality food for a decent price. Can't wait to go back.

California Club $7.95
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My hubby and baby enjoyed this delicious sandwich. I ordered clam chowder for my little one but she wanted nothing to do with the soup once dad came to the table with this.  We ate in the cafeteria side of the restaurant.  They had different areas: grill for hamburgers & fresh fish, soups & salads, pizza, beverages and sandwiches cooked to order.  Despite being so crowded you could barely stand in line, the crowd and wait were well worth it.  The clam chowder was cooked with bacon and really good but the sandwich by far stood out. You could skip the garlic fries, those were not worth the long wait at the grill.  Among the bevy of beverages, they offer Clover brand milk, which in my opinion is the best tasting and my baby agrees.  So next time you head to the aquarium, take some time to enjoy the Pacific ocean views while grubbing on some fine food at Portola Cafe.

Portola Cafe & Restaurant
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 648-4870

YUM Meter: ***