#14 Boston - We're out of Poki - September 8, 2005
Well at least they were out of poki at Cuvae, a snazzy little restaurant in Oakland, California, where I had one of the most exquisite dinners ever. Located on College Avenue not far from my old apartment it is proof that good and tasty things do come in tiny packages. Space-wise on the modest side, it impresses nevertheless and chef Jeff Chow is an absolute master in the kitchen and dazzled us with Asian-Fusion cuisine at its finest. Yes, they were out of ahi poki, but they made up for it with a tasty little Korean treat, Soju – a distilled liquor that was introduced from China in the 13th century and was a big hit with the Korean kings and noble folk at the time. It is kind of like vodka, much smoother, and apparently the highest percentage liquor (25%) you can sell on a beer and wine license. Worked for me!!
This happened to be the meeting of my Bay Area dinner group who treated me to this wonderful experience last night, and I for one do not hesitate do shamelessly advertise this place. The Korean soju hit the spot pretty well, and we actually managed to get lost on the way home, which is a sad statement considering that we all live (or used to live) in this neighborhood.
In fact, my trip to California has been mostly a culinary experience. From burgers at “Flippers” in Oakland’s Montclair district, to extraordinary Thai food at Soi4 (http://www.soifour.com/ - according to one review “it puts the bang back into Bangkok Cuisine”), and old favorites such as “Long Life Veggie” chinese food in Berkeley – my stomach has been very happy and content. Best new discovery though is the “Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe” in Oakland – ohmygod, ohmygod – truffels to die for and after the first taste of their “spicy hot chocolate” I was completely in love with the place.
Of course with all the eating, carousing and beer drinking, I have had to compensate by doing some running, hiking and falling down a set of stairs. Yes, my friends, I am consistenly upholding my record as the klutziest person around – this time sailing down the stairs in my friend Felicia’s home (Note to self: wool socks and polished wood floor = danger). It was not the prettiest of sights, and I am sufficiently sore and stiff, but at least noone got hurt, right??
Running has been a bit of a challenge as a result, I look as if I swallowed a broom – still, I have enjoyed some relishable jogging trips around the old neighborhoods, and even discovered a few new gems: the city of Alameda (http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/community/history_01.html) which thanks to the housing boom in the Bay Area has developed from a bourgeois little suburb to a pretty cool place to live in (http://www.alamedainfo.com/Alameda_Photos.htm) and its extension Bay Farm Island, where one can nicely jaunt for a few miles and end up with a fabulous view of San Francisco.You eventually meet up with the San Francisco Bay Trail, an enormous network of trails to hike and bike and rollerblade - it connects the shoreline of all nine Bay Area counties, links 47 cities, and crosses the major toll bridges in the region. To date, approximately 240 miles —over half the Bay Trail’s ultimate length—have been completed (http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov/map.html_).
Another outdoor excursion led to Redwood Park – almost 1900 acres of hiking joy along the Oakland hills extending into Contra Costa county - http://www.bahiker.com/slideshows/east/redwoodpics.htm. My hike with my friends Jimmy and Ximena up and down the somewhat steep French Trail surrounded by majestic Redwoods, groves of Eucalyptus trees, Madrones, California Bay and of course, our old favorite, the all-present, vicious poison oak, reminded again of the beauty of the area and why I got into hiking in the first place (well, maybe the poison oak did not.....).
Having a good time to sum things up, and I have to hurry off right now for the next installment of Petra’s “Wine, Dine and Run” tour of California – dinner with my former neighbors in the Rockridge district of Oakland.
I am hereby sending kisses out to my Boston friends, in particular “Team Oscar” who has been taking care of my little feathered friend and roommate, and I hear that there is some singing (and possibly dancing), but definitely chirping going on at 2 Hawthorne Place.
See you again next week from the hub!!
pet:)
This happened to be the meeting of my Bay Area dinner group who treated me to this wonderful experience last night, and I for one do not hesitate do shamelessly advertise this place. The Korean soju hit the spot pretty well, and we actually managed to get lost on the way home, which is a sad statement considering that we all live (or used to live) in this neighborhood.
In fact, my trip to California has been mostly a culinary experience. From burgers at “Flippers” in Oakland’s Montclair district, to extraordinary Thai food at Soi4 (http://www.soifour.com/ - according to one review “it puts the bang back into Bangkok Cuisine”), and old favorites such as “Long Life Veggie” chinese food in Berkeley – my stomach has been very happy and content. Best new discovery though is the “Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe” in Oakland – ohmygod, ohmygod – truffels to die for and after the first taste of their “spicy hot chocolate” I was completely in love with the place.
Of course with all the eating, carousing and beer drinking, I have had to compensate by doing some running, hiking and falling down a set of stairs. Yes, my friends, I am consistenly upholding my record as the klutziest person around – this time sailing down the stairs in my friend Felicia’s home (Note to self: wool socks and polished wood floor = danger). It was not the prettiest of sights, and I am sufficiently sore and stiff, but at least noone got hurt, right??
Running has been a bit of a challenge as a result, I look as if I swallowed a broom – still, I have enjoyed some relishable jogging trips around the old neighborhoods, and even discovered a few new gems: the city of Alameda (http://www.ci.alameda.ca.us/community/history_01.html) which thanks to the housing boom in the Bay Area has developed from a bourgeois little suburb to a pretty cool place to live in (http://www.alamedainfo.com/Alameda_Photos.htm) and its extension Bay Farm Island, where one can nicely jaunt for a few miles and end up with a fabulous view of San Francisco.You eventually meet up with the San Francisco Bay Trail, an enormous network of trails to hike and bike and rollerblade - it connects the shoreline of all nine Bay Area counties, links 47 cities, and crosses the major toll bridges in the region. To date, approximately 240 miles —over half the Bay Trail’s ultimate length—have been completed (http://baytrail.abag.ca.gov/map.html_).
Another outdoor excursion led to Redwood Park – almost 1900 acres of hiking joy along the Oakland hills extending into Contra Costa county - http://www.bahiker.com/slideshows/east/redwoodpics.htm. My hike with my friends Jimmy and Ximena up and down the somewhat steep French Trail surrounded by majestic Redwoods, groves of Eucalyptus trees, Madrones, California Bay and of course, our old favorite, the all-present, vicious poison oak, reminded again of the beauty of the area and why I got into hiking in the first place (well, maybe the poison oak did not.....).
Having a good time to sum things up, and I have to hurry off right now for the next installment of Petra’s “Wine, Dine and Run” tour of California – dinner with my former neighbors in the Rockridge district of Oakland.
I am hereby sending kisses out to my Boston friends, in particular “Team Oscar” who has been taking care of my little feathered friend and roommate, and I hear that there is some singing (and possibly dancing), but definitely chirping going on at 2 Hawthorne Place.
See you again next week from the hub!!
pet:)
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5:04 PM
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