Grub Lounge - February 2008

February 28, 2008

Somerset Restaurant, Oakland

One of my mother’s and my favorite places to spend a girls’ day out is the College Avenue/Rockridge area of Oakland (just a mile or two down, College Avenue turns into Berkeley and leads directly to the campus). A couple Sundays ago, we met up at the Rockridge BART station, stashed our cars and began walking. Yeah, OK, the lot is supposed to be for BART patrons only—but it was virtually empty on a Sunday morning.
Our girls’ days are usually comprised of two goals: shopping for a particular item, and eating ... um, anything. The shopping goal for the day was to find myself a pair of black flats for me. It was a moral imperative, as I was currently flouting the UWL (Universal Womens Law) by not owning a single pair of black flats. (No, that doesn’t mean... Read more »

Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 in Grub Lounge | Permalink | Comments

February 16, 2008

Bistro Jeanty, Yountville

For quite some time I have wanted to check out Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Not because it received a Michelin star on the 2008 Michelin list, but because it’s a popular favorite amongst locals in the Napa Valley. You’ll hear about many who go at least once a week for lunch or dinner and just eat at the bar. Apparently, it’s a local hangout.
I arrived for lunch at 11:28 a.m. (we had a reservation for 11:30) on Valentine’s Day. The front door was locked and there was an expectant crowd gathered on the sidewalk eagerly peering inside. Hmm. Interesting. To our relief, at exactly 11:30 they unlocked the front door and let us in. Phew. Hungry mobs can be a tad dangerous.
The atmosphere is cozy, casual and intimate just like a bistro... Read more »

Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 in Grub Lounge | Permalink | Comments

February 6, 2008

Hush, Laguna Beach

On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I was fortunate to garner an invitation to meet for drinks at Hush in Laguna Beach. Located on the main drag in downtown Laguna Beach, Hush offers a contemporary, upscale experience whether you’re in the elegant blue neon accented bar or the quietly sophisticated dining room. It’s a nice contrast to the rest of Laguna’s beachy casual establishments. Having checked out the website prior to arrival, I was intrigued by their extensive wine list and the variety of imported proteins.

In L.A.’s Friday night traffic, it took me over three hours to get from Santa Monica to Laguna Beach. So of course I was late, starving and nervy from driving illegally in the carpool lane. (If not for the HOV lane,... Read more »

Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 in Grub Lounge | Permalink | Comments

February 28, 2008 Somerset Restaurant, Oakland One of my mother’s and my favorite places to spend a girls’ day out is the College Avenue/Rockridge area of Oakland (just a mile or two down, College Avenue turns into Berkeley and leads directly to the campus). A couple Sundays ago, we met up at the Rockridge BART station, stashed our cars and began walking. Yeah, OK, the lot is supposed to be for BART patrons only—but it was virtually empty on a Sunday morning. Our girls’ days are usually comprised of two goals: shopping for a particular item, and eating ... um, anything. The shopping goal for the day was to find myself a pair of black flats for me. It was a moral imperative, as I was currently flouting the UWL (Universal Womens Law) by not owning a single pair of black flats. (No, that doesn’t mean... Read more » Posted on Thursday, February 28, 2008 in Grub Lounge \| Permalink \| Comments

	February 16, 2008 Bistro Jeanty, Yountville For quite some time I have wanted to check out Bistro Jeanty in Yountville. Not because it received a Michelin star on the 2008 Michelin list, but because it’s a popular favorite amongst locals in the Napa Valley. You’ll hear about many who go at least once a week for lunch or dinner and just eat at the bar. Apparently, it’s a local hangout. I arrived for lunch at 11:28 a.m. (we had a reservation for 11:30) on Valentine’s Day. The front door was locked and there was an expectant crowd gathered on the sidewalk eagerly peering inside. Hmm. Interesting. To our relief, at exactly 11:30 they unlocked the front door and let us in. Phew. Hungry mobs can be a tad dangerous. The atmosphere is cozy, casual and intimate just like a bistro... Read more » Posted on Saturday, February 16, 2008 in Grub Lounge \| Permalink \| Comments

	February 6, 2008 Hush, Laguna Beach On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I was fortunate to garner an invitation to meet for drinks at Hush in Laguna Beach. Located on the main drag in downtown Laguna Beach, Hush offers a contemporary, upscale experience whether you’re in the elegant blue neon accented bar or the quietly sophisticated dining room. It’s a nice contrast to the rest of Laguna’s beachy casual establishments. Having checked out the website prior to arrival, I was intrigued by their extensive wine list and the variety of imported proteins. In L.A.’s Friday night traffic, it took me over three hours to get from Santa Monica to Laguna Beach. So of course I was late, starving and nervy from driving illegally in the carpool lane. (If not for the HOV lane,... Read more » Posted on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 in Grub Lounge \| Permalink \| Comments