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It has been HELLA LONG since I did a “Food & Liquor,” post but I just ate some of the best FOH ever and I had to pay homage.
[Don't let an irrational fear of Richmond keep you from experiencing this wonderful establishment!]
“Huong-Tra” is located at 12221 San Pablo Ave Suite 8, Richmond, CA 94806. Equipped with some of the best rice vermicelli dishes I’ve ever eaten, Huong-Tra never fails to satisfy. From PHO (beef noodle soup), COM DIA (meat & rice plates), to vegetarian and seafood plates, Huong-Tra is scrumdiddlyumcious and they serve a Vietnamese style BBQ Beef sandwich that’ll make you wanna slap yourself.
[BAHN MI BO NUONG: ONLY $3.50 BLUD!]
[PHO GA (Chicken Noodle Soup)]
I think we can all se why a picture is worth a thousand words. Come on down to “The City of Pride & Purpose,” and show this family restaurant some love. I’m sure they’ll show it back! Don’t you dare forget the Sriracha!
[You can tell from the color that this sh*t aint no joke. Proceed with caution.]
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For the 21 and over…
["It tastes like it's got butter inside..."]
I recently went to a FREE Johnnie Walker Whiskey tasting in Frisco and it was absolute bananas. Everyone got a free beverage of their choosing and copious amounts of fruit, crackers and expensive/delicious cheese I had never seen/tasted before. After a while enjoying the food and our drinks, we were escorted into a large room where a dude who looked like he prolly had money falling out his arse put on a headset mic and proceeded to rock my (not close, but not far from alcoholic) world.
We tried each and every “label,” going down the line, starting with Red Label, a “bright flavored scotch, used primarily for mixed drinks. Black label on the rocks was superb and up to that point was the only Walker Scotch I’d ever tried. Green Label was brand-spanking new and tasted like pain mixed with pine tress. Needless to say, I wasn’t much of a fan. Then it came. Gold Label was brought out to us by a handful of “Johnnie Walker Ladies,” (I seriously felt like I was dining with the muhf*ckin Devil here) in chilled glasses. Apparently the frosted glasses “open the flavor,” of the whiskey and as it warms on your tongue, you can sense notes of honey and vanilla. Much to my surprise, you actually could. While the Blue Label was the most expensive and some of the smoothest Scotch I’d ever tried, I found that the Gold Label was my favorite.
Long story short:
I was in San Rafael (where I work) searching for a Barnes & Noble to buy a birthday card. Apparently, the B&N that I remembered was no longer there and had been replaced by a “Beverages & More.” I figured “as long as I’m here…” and went inside to discover that the regularly $80 a bottle Gold Label was on sale for $35. As I am a str8-up-sucka-emcee for bargains, I couldn’t afford not to buy it.
If you are ever able to splurge, I recommend sipping it chilled with a small piece of dark chocolate. You’ll be all smiles just like I am as I sip ‘n write this very moment.
Eat, Drink & Dont Be Scurry,
Senbei
p.s. Alcohol kills millions a year and destroys lives, relationships and your brain.
p.p.s. I am slightly retarded.
p.p.s. For no particular reason at all:
[Booker T. Washington like yee.]
As far back as I can remember, I have loved cheeseburgers. This isn’t necesarrily something to be proud of/happy about but it’s absoultely true. “The Red Onion,” has been a long-time favorite of mine and I now live 5 minutes away from it in El Cerrito, CA.
If you are a fan of a simple, inexpensive, massive, delicious greasy buger, this is the place for you. Vegans and vegetarians need not apply because while “The Red Onion,” does serve a veggie burger, it is cooked on the same sizzling grill that all that juicy beef is. The onion rings, fries and milkshakes are heart-cloggingly delicious and if you’ve just had a really long day and nothing to eat, you will not leave this place unsatisfied.
On a very sad note, I dedicate this “FOOD & LIQUOR,” entry to Alfredo Fugueroa, the late owner of “The Red Onion.” In April of 2007, he was murdered in the restaurant when two armed men attempted to rob him. Here is a great San Francisco Chronicle article about the Richmond/El Cerrito community coming to the family’s aid and rasing some $50,000 to assist his family after Alfredo was shot and killed.
I ate at “The Red Onion,” just last week and the place was immacualtely clean with friendly service just as I remembered it. If you are ever in the Richmond/El Cerrito area, stop on by and say ‘hi’ to a family-owned business with a ton of heart & delicious grubbery. Much love and respect to the Figueroa familia!
The Red Onion is located at:
11900 San Pablo Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530
p.s. It’s better AND less expensive than Nation’s!
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For the 21+…
If you haven’t been to Pyramid Brewery in Berkeley, CA and you live in the East Bay you’re either a vegetarian or you’re a minor whose parents don’t drink alcohol. The food is good (not great), and the beer is brewed right there and is some of the best I’ve ever had.
During the winter Pyramid serves my personal favorite, “Snow Cap.”
A rich, full-bodied winter warmer crafted in the British tradition of holiday beers. This deep mahogany colored brew balances complex fruit flavors with a refreshingly smooth texture, making Snow Cap a highly drinkable and desirable cold weather companion.
(Worst-analogy-ever warning*) Like Meagan Good, this beer is dark, incredibly smooth, full-bodied and you’d step over your own mother to get it. (*I have to be pretty damn smart to be this f*cking stupid.) All jokes aside, if you are a beer-drinker, I highly recommend giving “Snowcap Ale,” a try. One of the best dark ales I’ve ever had in my life (and I’ve been to Scotland & England homie).
Pyramid Brewery is located at:
901 Gilman St
Berkeley, CA 94710
Eat, drink & be merry,
Senbei
P.S. Alcohol kills millions a year and destroys lives, relationships and your brain.
P.P.S. I am hella stupid.
The majority of Bay Areans already know about Zachary’s Chicago Style Pizza, but I found this lil’ snippet on the web and had to share it with the world. This Pizza place is not only the creator of the most “scrum-diddly-umtious” tomato/cheese/(whatever topping you desire) pie I ever ate in my entire life, but it is also employee owned! No overseer, “Lumbergh” (watch ‘Office Space’), bastards controlling peoples lives and reaping the benefits! BELICIMO.
Here’s what “Oakland Magazine,” had to say:
Legendary Zachary’s Chicago Pizza KOs the field, and it’s no secret why: The cheese-laden, chunky-sauced stuffed or thin pies are the stuff of obsessions, keeping the pizzeria constantly overrun. From a slice of piping-hot pepperoni to the mountainous stuffed spinach-and-mushroom pie, Zachary’s turns pizza-making into an art….
Zach’s literally has lines of mofos spilling out the door on a daily basis, fiendin’ for a fix. Are you sure that’s ”oregano” you put on the top of your pizza? Either way, if you live in the Yay and have yet to try this fantabulous pizza pie, you haven’t lived (and you prolly just moved here: booo gentrification!). *That’s a whole ‘nother blog entry altogether. =P The stuffed spinach & mushroom ALWAYS satisfies, but if you want to try something new, a thin crust sausage, pineapple and fresh garlic pizza will make you question your belief in all that is good an holy. That’s amore…
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For the 21 and older…
On a trip to Santa Barbara this past summer with my fiance, we decided to go wine-tasting for the first time and on the night we arrived I found myself at the 7-11 across the street from our Motel6 (classy, I know =P) asking the “barkeep” Rosa, what was good from their fine selection of wines (gimmie a break blud, I work in public schools for a living). Rosa put me on to one of the richest, most delicious red wines I’d ever had when she told me “most people ususally get that one.”
It was only 9 bucks so I grabbed it along with two clear plastic “glasses,” and headed back to ‘room64′ where the love of my life awaited me. Upon first taste, the words my fiance Em used to describe this 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon were: “Damn…this sh*t is hella good!”
This medium-bodied 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon has a round body that combines flavors of fresh blueberries and black cherries that are accentuated by brown spice, mocha and hints of vanilla. It pairs well with (wait for it…) Zachary’s Chicago Style Pizza!!! It’s a winning combo like Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker (but you don’t get tired of it after 3X). It’s like drinking velvet.
If you need tips on wine-tasting (as my simple-ass did before this trip), rent or netflix “Sydeways” with Paul Giamatti and Sandra Oh. It’s a hilarious movie and won a golden globe award for best comedy. We even ate at the restaurant (“The Hitching Post”) that Giamatti’s character meets his lady-friend. My steak n’ scrimps was boombastic.
Have a pleasant meal,
Sen
P.S. Alcohol kills millions a year and destroys lives, relationships and your brain.
P.P.S. I am hella stupid
So I’ve decided to add a “Food & Liquor” category to COLINRESPONSE, in which I review restaurants and beverages for the 21+. This category is named after Lupe Fiasco’s first album because I believe as he says, that “life is made up of two things: food and liquor.” This is basically a mix of what you need and require in life and what you don’t need, but desire in life. Here goes (absolutely) nothing…
For my (east) Bay Arean bros and sisters who are fans of Indian fare, you have GOT to check out Khana Peena, located at 1889 Solano Avenue in Berkeley. These cats do not play games and the make some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten. The prawns tikka masala are like little firecrackers of explosive deliciousness, the veggie samosas make you feel like there’s a party in your mouth and everyone (except Trent Lott) is invited, and the baigan bharta (eggplant baked, mashed & cooked with sauteed onions, garlic & flavored with Indian spices) tatses like its got crack inside it son!!!
The ambiance (I like that word) is very nice. Great place to go with a date or family & friends. Dishes range from $8-$15. I highly reccomend the chicken tikka masala or tandoori mixed grill platter with garlic naan for those new to Indian food. You can’t lose. Check it:
I hope you like delicious-ass, scumptious food that is healthy, affordable and satisfying because that’s all they serve here blud. Khana Peena – Remember the name. Church.
Moving along… *ahem*
For those of you over the age of 21, I want…no, need to put you on to a drink that is sweeping the (thizz) nation. I was made aware of this drink by some of my close broskis (and loyal colinresponse readers) Kori Saika Chen & Gregory Allen Mitchell. This beverage is served on the rocks and is 2 parts Jameson Irish Whiskey, and 1 part (wait for it…) Hyphy Juice. If you don’t know what Hyphy juice is, you really don’t need to be drinking “McDummy.”
I was very happy/proud to assist in the naming of this refreshing beverage, which gets its nomenclature from being both Irish and Bay. As the homies say, “that sh*t goes…” It’s smooth & sweet like the new Alicia Keyes album and green like…Hyphy Juice? (I’ve never talked about Hyphy Juice so much in my entire life, and never thought I would.)
If you are 21+ and like alcoholic beverages that taste like “grapple” (WTF?) McDummy is the drink for you!
WARNING: Drinking “McDummy,” may increase your belief in oppressive stereotypes maintaining that the Irish and young, working-class people of color from the Bay Area like to get drunk and start fights/sideshows (or just relax while the Warrior game is on).
“McDummy” 2007. All rights reserved ninja.
P.S. Alcohol kills millions a year and destroys lives, relationships and your brain.
P.P.S. I am hella stupid.
