Thursday, May 14, 2009

Restaurant Review - Cafe Silan, Menlo Park, CA

Cafe Silan is in downtown Menlo Park, at 867 Santa Cruz Ave, Menlo Park, CA.

This is a small, Kurdish restaurant, with some pretty tasty dishes. My favorites:

- The appetizer - flat bread with dip. The dip is delicious!
- Some pizza with keema or ghosht on it. Very simple, and very good. To completely change the flavor, try it with the spicy sauce on the tables
- Salad with kebabs. The kebabs were good, but the salad was excellent!

Silan is on my once-a-quarter restaurant list now

Friday, February 6, 2009

Batonnage - New Wine Consulting/ Blog/ Site

What is Batonnage?  It is the wine making operation of mixing up the lees (dead yeast cells from fermentation) in the barrel with the wine to release the mannoproteins, improving the flavor, mouthfeel, and stability of the wine.

Did that impress you?  How do I know this?  A close friend,  has fired up a site http://www.batonnagewine.com/

If you're looking to host a wine event in the bay area, check out this site, or just email info@batonnagewine.com  and ask them your wine questions. 

In particular, check out the blog for helpful and timely tips.  My favorite for 2009 - Batonnage's take on the best value wines

Monday, January 26, 2009

Carlton Hotel Mussoorie In Winter

A couple more photos of the beautiful Carlton's Plaisance Hotel in Mussoorie, India. 

The photos are from the very large front lawn, facing the hotel.  There is a lovely hill with a temple behind the hotel.  Kids love running up that mountain.

mussoorie carlton hotel

mussoorie india carlton plaisance hotel

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Restaurant Review - Himawari, San Mateo

Himawari in San Mateo in the bay area (California) is one of my favorite restaurants, specially when its getting close to 9 pm (it doesn't close early, except on Sundays).

Himawari is a Japanese restaurant.  They have sushi, of course.  But their specialty is ramen, udons, and that kind of stuff.

My favorites are the Shio Buttercorn Ramen, and the Tan Tan Men.  Having grown up on Indian food, I prefer a bit more taste, a bit more saltiness in my food, and Himawari delivers.

Favorite side dish - the sesame spinach.  (Although I think all their appetizers are great)

It is located at 202 2nd Ave., San Mateo, CA

himawari

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Mussoorie Hotel, Carlton's Plaisance

Some more photos of the Carlton's Plaisance hotel in Mussoorie in India.  (Previous photographs are here).

These photos are in winter.  Mussoorie is absolutely beautiful then!

mussoorie hotel carlton

This is the front lawn, which has swings, and a canopied area to sit under (when the weather is good, of course)

carlton hotel mussoorie photos