16248 Main Street, Guerneville, CA 95446. (707) 869-0780
http://eatatboon.com/

During my recent work trip, many of the locals were kind enough to offer restaurant recommendations. One place I kept hearing about repeatedly was Boon Eat + Drink. It was pricier than what my work per diem allowed but one of my coworkers and I decided to go check it out anyway. Yes, I know...I have champagne taste on a beer budget. ☺

We found this Guerneville hotspot easily enough. It was located in a small row of eateries on Main Street, just a couple doors down from an interesting looking cabaret/wine bar. It was quite small and bistroesque in nature. The whole restaurant consisted of about 10 tables (mostly deuces) along with two tables squeezed outside. We lucked out that there was a 2-top open when we arrived and the hostess was able to seat us immediately. Inside, there wasn't a lot of room to move about and it was a bit loud, but they make the chaos work somehow. I have to say, I loved the whimsical dog-catching-a-Frisbee wallpaper that decorated one wall. So cute! (I wanted to take a photo of it for you but the lighting was pretty dim in the restaurant. Sorry!)

Boon's menu was brief (a smattering of salads, small plates, and entrées) but ranged from dishes like grass-fed burgers with crispy truffle fries (and homemade ketchup and aioli), a decadent sounding mac-and-cheese, to a sublime-sounding polenta lasagna with mixed seasonal veggies and a spicy marinara. My coworker went with the mac and cheese with wild mushrooms topped with truffled bread crumbs; which she said was sinfully rich and oh so creamy. I opted to start with the grilled calamari salad with arugula, citrus segments, shaved fennel, castelvetrano olives and a lemon vinaigrette. The helping of squid was generous and the salad was delicious. The orange segments in my calamari salad really brightened the dish and it was nice to see calamari prepared in such a simple manner. The flavor and texture of the squid was able to shine through (I'm so over deep fried batter smothering my calamari). For my entrée, I went with the seared halibut with grape salsa over spicy black lentils and greens. The fish was cooked perfectly. The lentils, on the other hand, could have been cooked just a tad longer; nevertheless, the spicy kick of the lentils contrasted perfectly with the sweetness of the grapes - and I ate all of them.



Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Boon Eat+Drink to friends if they're in the area. I love that they use seasonal produce to enhance their dishes. Everything I tasted during my visit was seasoned well and alive with flavor. (Don't worry about the calories, you can hike them off the next day at nearby Armstrong Redwoods State Preserve.) Next time, I'd love to take the time to sample some of the Russian River wines and beers on their list. My only recommendation to Boon Eat + Drink would be to invest in some air conditioning. Gah! It was incredibly warm inside the restaurant even with the doors open. I could see sweat glistening on surrounding patrons foreheads as well. No bueno.

10439 California 1, Jenner, CA 95450. (707) 865-2251

So last week, I went on my first work trip with my new job. We got to spend 5 days in the lovely Russian River area. The scenery in that part of California was beautiful (billowy fog, clear blue water and loads and loads of trees, flowers and greenery), not to mention it was about 20 degrees cooler than Sacramento. My coworkers and I stayed at this little hotel in Guerneville (called Fern Grove) made up of little rustic cottages.




My cottage had a separate living room as well as a kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge. Nothing fancy but cute nonetheless. The bathroom did have this additional, weird red overhead light though. When turned on, it gave the bathroom this weird opium den feel and made me want to belt out the Police's "Roxanne." (Later, I found out this was a heat light.)


The second day of our trip, my coworkers and I met up with the superintendent for Mendocino-Russian River State Parks District at Café Aquatica for an early morning meeting. Café Aquatica is located in the small, picturesque town of Jenner and looks like a charming beach shack set along the side of the road.


The two gals working the shop the day we visited were sweet as pie. When one of my coworkers panicked because they only took cash, they graciously told her that she could pay them back next time she was in the area. (Don't worry, she got covered.) Café Aquatica's coffee, I have to say, is just as good as their view. They get their beans from a small fair-trade farm in Nicaragua and micro roast them on site. There was none of that burnt or acidy taste that a lot of places seem to have. Each cup is done as a pour over, made to order. They also offer a mouthwatering menu of fresh soups, salads, sandwiches and baked treats. Try one of their breakfast sandwiches! (My coworker said it was delicious. Her poached eggs with lox on toasted, homemade focaccia looked amazing and I instantly regretted not ordering one to go.) Also, according to the barista, they only use certified organic and non-GMO products- so that's a big plus. ☺

If you're in the area and aren't in a rush, I highly recommend stopping by Café Aquatica for a cuppa joe. Take it out onto the raised deck, plop yourself into an Adirondack chair and grab a moment of peace and tranquility before starting your day. It's such a great place to collect your thoughts, inhale some crisp, coastal air and refuel your soul.

(PS dog lovers- Fido is welcome here, so bring him to enjoy the view as well.)

3193 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95818.  (916) 475-1223.
http://cafevics.com

Mr. S. and I have a ritual that's been going for awhile now. Every other week after his haircut, we meet up at Vic's and get two coffees to-go, we then either walk around the Land Park neighborhood commenting on yards (we're always trying to get landscaping ideas for his yard) or head over to the WPA Rock Garden to chat and catch each other up on our days. It's a simple date but a nice one, a little downtime during the hectic week.

Up until recently we would always meet at the Temple Coffee on S Street, but our visits there have been tapering off. Sure, we still go there if we're getting some morning joe to-go but we rarely stay there and hang out anymore. The patio is always too full, the coffee shop is bursting with people camping out with their laptops for HOURS on end and the newer staff members just aren't as friendly. The coffee is still quite delicious though. Vic's, on the other hand, is peaceful, has plenty of seating and the staff always seems glad to see a customer. Best of all, they serve the Temple coffee that I love. By the way, I can attest that their barista, George, makes a mean iced Americano (my current fav summertime drink). In addition to standard coffee drinks, they also serve Italian sodas, loose teas and scrumptious blended drinks with homemade whipped cream.

If you're looking for some nibbles, this community coffee shop also offers a limited menu of breakfast burritos, salads, sandwiches and Old Soul Co. pastries. And of course- you can always pop into their wonderful, old-fashioned ice cream parlor next door afterwards to satiate your sweet tooth. Vic's is a terrific addition to the neighborhood. There's something for everyone. My only wish is that they would invest in some tables for outside. There's plastic patio chairs lined up in a row out there currently, but it's not a comfortable atmosphere for hanging out in and I love to chat while drinking my coffee. Inside though, they do have chairs, tables, booths, comfy couches...and the ever-essential Wi-Fi.

2130 Center Street, Berkeley, CA 94704. (510) 665-1969     
http://www.ippukuberkeley.com/

[Note: This blog post is long overdue. Sorry for being MIA and thanks for being so patient. The new job is going well and I'm beginning to acclimate, so look for me to start back up with my blog posts.]

A few months ago, my friend Misa and I took a mini road trip to Berkeley to try an izakaya called Kiraku. We had a fantastic time and the food was terrific. We enjoyed it so much we made plans to return with our friend Miki and check out the other izakaya (Ippuku) in town which specializes in yakitori and compare. After dining at both, I felt the food was much stronger at Kiraku but the ambiance at Ippuku was more refined.


Ippuku, which means a small break in Japanese, is set up to be a social gathering spot where one can eat, drink and chat with friends. Just past the small front bar is a narrow dining area with low lighting, divided into intimate compartments to afford some privacy. Some of the compartments contain a booth while others consist of zashiki seating. In the back is a counter where you can sit and watch the chefs cook the yakitori over bincho-tan (white Japanese charcoal). The minimalist décor (clean lines, high ceilings and grey concrete walls accented with stylish salvaged wood) throughout the restaurant and the smell of the smoke from the yakitori grill brought back many fond memories for me of my time in Japan.  There's also a nice selection of beer, sake and an extensive shochu list to choose from. Oh, in case you're wondering- no, they don't serve teriyaki bowls or Dynamite rolls (or any other roll by some ridiculous name) doused in "special" sauce; they only serve yakitori and izakaya fare (Japanese pub food).


Service was a bit slow. Our dishes came out one at a time which would have been okay except there were a few dishes we weren't sharing and it was awkward to chomping away on your yakitori stick while your dinner companions are sitting there without food in front of them. Our waiter didn't seem very knowledgeable about the menu offerings and was quite vague in his descriptions of the dishes, but overall service was fine. I did, however, feel a bit rushed toward the end. Even if you have reservations, they want you in and out quickly because there's a long wait so I'm not sure how great this place would be for a date- you wouldn't be able to linger at all.

Here's an overview of some of the tasty dishes we ate:

9308 Elk Grove Blvd Ste 100 (corner of Elk Grove Blvd and Waterman), Elk Grove, CA 95624.
(916) 478-4444      
http://www.bestpizzaandcurry.com/index.htm

This is a quickie review. A friend and I trekked out to Elk Grove this week to 1st Choice Pizza and Curry to satiate our curiosity and our hunger. Italian and Indian?  Hmmm? That's a fusion that could work. I had heard about this place through friends and wanted to try the much talked about butter chicken pizza. Turns out the butter chicken pizza is pretty good and the mixture of flavors works well together. We got the mild and the flavors of cumin, coriander, garam masala, chili etc. were detectable but not overwhelming. They do have a spicier version as well for those of you who like a little extra kick. The medium pizza ($14.99) we got came with eight slices and the dough was a regular pizza crust. (I would have loved it if it had been a naan crust.)

The restaurant is located in a large strip mall. It has seating and serves beer and wine but the atmosphere is super casual, similar to a fast food eatery. You order and pay at the counter, then they bring the pizza out to your table when it's done. Service is polite and efficient. The menu states that they also make chicken curry pizza, veggie masala pizza and Malai paneer pizza in addition to the butter chicken. Additionally, they carry several "regular" pizzas (and gluten-free pizzas), as well as a variety of traditional Indian dishes such as saag chana, tandoori chicken and paneer tikka masala. They also have mango lassi and various premade/packaged Indian sweets (rasmalai, gulab jamun, mango kulfi, kheer, and pista Kulfi.

My friend and I both liked the pizza we had. Not enough to drive out from Midtown to Elk Grove for it again but if we were in the area, we'd definitely stop by or get takeout. By the way, for those who do live out there, 1st Choice Pizza and Curry currently will deliver within a 3-mile radius.

610 & 644 1st Street, Napa,  CA 94559. (707) 226-6529
http://oxbowpublicmarket.com/
Open 7 days a Week