Devon's Dish: [[THE BUCHER'S SON.]] restaurant review

As soon as I turned the corner, I saw the line. It was good sized, but I wasn't about to turn back. I watched a few videos and then checked out the menu. After finding "The Butcher's {vegan} Son" on Instagram, I decided to check them out a couple Saturdays ago. 

They had so many dishes to offer, some of my favorites were; the fried mozzarella meatball and the Chili garlic chicken B.L.A.T. I decided on one savory and one sweet. I wanted to get a better opinion and more importantly.. I was starving. It was definitely filled with foodies, and hipsters, but also families and large groups of friends and couples, everyone seemed stoked to be there. 

I knew it was going to be good. 

What can I say about the decor. I felt like I was in a place that was originally a flower shop, then 1950's diner and now had a mid century modern twist. The staff was super friendly, let me carry Maddie as I waited in line. The space behind the counter was microscopic but the staff moved around like a perfectly choreographed dance routine. 

The donuts were out of this world. I didn't eat one since I knew I'd already be in trouble with what I was planning to order.. They were perfect little pillow of friend dough, eclectically decorated using various toppings. 

Since I had Maddie with me, I had to sit outside.. which was fine. Like I said earlier, the day was perfect. Luckily, right after I put in my order of pancakes and Level 8 vegan sandwich and left the restaurant, I spotted a sunny table open up. 

My food was really delicious. On a scale of 1-10 I would say the sandwich was an 8 and the pancakes were a 9.5. I enjoyed the sandwich, but would skip the bacon and the cream cheese next time. The flavors were good, but combined they were too strong for my taste. The "chicken" was great, texture and flavor were on point. The bacon on it's own was good, but I was prefer it more crispy. The pancakes were perfect, The only thing that could have made them a 10, would be a side of blackberry jam. Of course I offered samples and Maddie liked the bacon most. 

Devon's Dish: [[THE TIPPING TEAPOT.]] restaurant review

 The Satori Tea Room was first introduced to me when I visited their location nestled deep in the center of downtown San Jose. Since then, that shop has moved to Saratoga, a tiny town  located at the base of the Santa Cruz mountains. I had the most wonderful time visiting this tea room, not to mention it was Superbowl Sunday.. so talk about having the place to yourself. :) 

My Aunt suggested that we come here for an afternoon and have some fun in memory of Nana. 

She was terribly British. I mean, a woman who was against getting her U.S. Citizenship because she was clearly a British woman and never converting. 

Here is my aunt, sipping her tea. I chose a Geisha green tea mix, which was light and airy but still remained true to its well-known flavor. My cup had the prettiest saucer, with dozens of flowers painted on it's surface. They have the best collection of dishes.. which, actually. it isn't a collection come to think of it.. Every cup a saucer is different and the tea pots are all different types, from classic hand painted roses, to funny shapes and colors. 

My sister had a gold elephant.  

We decided to get the "Tea for Two" but ordered two rounds so that would it would feed all four of us. I could have eaten about twelve more sandwiches, to tell you the truth ( they were so good ). Our scones were fresh from the oven, and they serve jam and clotted cream and lemon curd. The sandwiches I liked most were the pesto pumpkin seed and the pear, arugula and gorgonzola. 

Of course they have the traditional English cucumber and creme cheese, if you fancy. 

Just look at all the amazing pastries. The madeleine cookies were

 so good and I spread the jam on them, which was just divine. I could not stop with the chocolate french macarons, I think I even stole my Mom's share. They have dark chocolate and white chocolate petite fours which were decorated with tiny hearts. All the desserts were so pretty, but we managed to eat them.   

Here is a picture of my Sister, Nana and I.

The interior is a mixture of over-stuffed furniture, covered in all different fabrics. I loved the delicate vintage accessories, like the framed mirrors on the wall or the embroidery on the pillows. The colors in the shop are bright and inviting. The huge windows in front, light the gift area and show off all the tea mixtures available for purchase. The street outside, is lined with other shops, restaurants and tasting rooms. 

Devon's Dish: [[ FORTHRIGHT OYSTER BAR ]] restaurant review

 wow wOw WOW... not enough time in the day for all the good things I have to say about this place!!!

Forthright Oyster Bar in Campbell Ca is simply smashing!!

I dined here this past weekend, a new spot in town and had to try it. I ate at A.P. Stumps growing up, and always enjoyed that "high class//modern" atmosphere  that it held.. 

I have always been drawn to that sort of vibe.

Good news, Jim Stump decided to open up shop in Campbell with his newest gem, and continues to own The Table in Willow Glen. read more about that here. 

We were able to try a few different appetizers,  including; the bone marrow, the heirloom tomato & burrata salad, the white watermelon & prosciutto salad, and the The Coromandel oysters. Thankfully we shared all of this, so everyone got a bite. The marrow bones were HUGE and very rich. The seasoning and caramelized crisp along with the crunchy bread was a served along side, was a perfect combination. My favorite as the oyster. They had a clean and fresh ocean taste, I added a splash of citrus for a little extra zest. The watermelon was given to us as a thank you, because we had to wait a little longer for our table. How Sweet!

For dinner, I enjoyed "The only Burger that belongs on the table"- yes that is truly the name. Apparently it is a rotating recipe noted by the name of the creator. I had Chris' Version- nice work Chris! The Swiss cheese crisp was a nice contrast of texture with every bite. The pastrami and the beef paired well with the "secret sauce"... over all I would order it again- but only if I can time it right..

Others in my party enjoyed the: Johnny Cakes, Pork Chop, Shrimp & Grits and the Seafood Linguine pasta. I tried a taste of each and would 100% recommend them to the next guest who walks through their door. I honestly don't think there is a bad dish on the menu??

I will return to Forthright, but it's the amazing service and hospitality that truly made the experience memorable. Our server was a doll, so attentive and delightful to talk to. Every other employee was courteous and inviting as well.  

recap snaps and restaurant review

My Mom had a wonderful birthday this past weekend. On Saturday we went out to breakfast at this amazing breakfast joint- Sandy's 

This place was pure bliss; from the decor, to the service to the owner being a total sweetheart.. don't even get me started on the food. I had the best veggie omelet 

with extra avocado. 

My dad gave the thumbs up for his pancakes..
Here's the back story.. So my Dad will order the same exact breakfast meal anywhere we go, this is his way to measure the quality and taste of the food. He says if I order the same meal, I have  something to compare it to. Well, I saw the sparkle in his eye after he took his first bite.. needless to say we will be returning.

my parents are pretty goofy

We also went out for dinner on Sunday to Paesanos in downtown San Jose. A classic Italian joint located in the Little Italy neighborhood. 

halibut piccata, YUM!!

The accordion player who greets you when you first walk in, the art and vibe of the restaurant all add to its authenticity. The menu is full of  classic Italian fare- from veal, chicken and lamb chops to multiple pasta entrees and if you re lucky to go on a night when they offer their fresh cheese appetizer.. trust me you'll be in heaven. Everything is made fresh to order, so don't come here and expect to get out in under an hour.

A charming little joint I highly recommend to anyone looking to escape reality 

for just a few hours.

Mom making a wish

my sister and her boyfriend

Devon's Dish

A new spot I tried in downtown San Jose last night for my Dad's birthday..

yes, I will be coming back.

 

 

The establishment itself was charming. An old house converted into a restaurant, with a classic red brick walk way leading to a perfect southern style wrap around porch. Outdoors there is plenty of seating especially around the stage which invites bands, solo artists and even open mic night participants (which is what we witnessed last night).

 

The menu is extensive, to say the least. The list of classic New Orleans dishes will leave your head spinning. But from the sound of things, you can't pick a wrong meal. Most known for the "po' boys" I would probably start there if you are having trouble deciding.

 

The spicy bbq sauce is good on EVERYTHING, order a side of that. The gumbo is rich and full of spicy flavor goodness. The sandwiches are bigger thank your head and the cornbread is a perfect example of southern hospitality.   

 

Order your food, grab a beer (plenty to pick from) and snag a seat outside in front of the music. Take a mini vacation to New Orleans, right in the middle of downtown San Jose.

Devon's Dish

Last night I had the pleasure of enjoying a fabulous date night with a gorgeous girl. As most of you know I am a self proclaimed foodie and love all things delicious. Last night we took a short drive right outside the city limits to Campbell and dined at Liquid Bread Gastropub. 

Ambiance

The first thing I thought of when I stepped inside the door was how inviting it was. I would definitely put this place in the trendy category; it had dim lighting, exposed kitchen, great tables and eclectic decor on the walls. My favorite part were the metal signs on the walls. I have no idea what they said (because they were in a different language) but they added to the overall ambiance of the joint.  

Service

Our server Cory, was so sweet and helped us pick some amazing beers to sample. Me and my girl Jolie, have a thing. We like to go beer tasting and both enjoy a good porter. The Pumpkin Porter was to. die. for. He checked on us quite often and was really sweet to make sure we loved everything we tasted. The beverage selection was impressive with close to 30 beers, if I remember correctly. My top favs were the sour ale, the porter and the Blonde IPA .

Meal

We sampled the butternut squash soup which was creamy and smoky, just perfect for the season and a chilly night. We each had a salad (beer is filling) and I think I liked hers better than mine.. good thing she's a doll and shared with me. I had the Chefs Garden ( a plethora of roasted vegetables, kale and got cheese) and Jolie had the Grilled Kale Salad (kale, pine nuts, pomegranate, goat cheese) ya see a pattern here?

Dessert

Luckily, our appetites came back and we were able to try dessert. I had the chocolate brownie with cookie dough ice cream and real whipped cream.. one word- decadent. Jolie ordered the green tea crepes and honestly they were just.. ok. They were lacking something- the flavor was too bland and the dish was served cold? If that was the only disappointing point during our visit, I think they did pretty well. 

cheers Liquid Bread, I'll be back for another round