Restaurant Blog - Chowbaby.com

by Ed Attanasio

THE SLANTED DOOR
1 Ferry Building, #3
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 861-8032
Located in the northeast corner of the famous restored Ferry Building, The Slanted Door has a stellar reputation for serving incredibly inventive food in an awe-inspiring setting. It’s a modern Vietnamese restaurant that features local produce and ecologically farmed meat, game and poultry raised at farms throughout the Bay Area. The food is the star of this gig, but the Riesling-driven wine list, the full bar with its unique selection of specialty drinks and fresh squeezed juices, and the hard-to-find Chinese teas, makes this gem a destination for food lovers from all over the world. The specialties of the house include Spring Rolls with peanut sauce; a Green Papaya Salad with rau ram; Shaking Beef stir-fired with garlic and organic onions and a wood-oven roasted whole fish with spicy ginger fish sauce. Every food experience should be just like this – unforgettable and wondrous.

by Jenny Bengen

Café Japengo
Routinely voted by San Diegans as one of the area’s best sushi restaurants, Café Japengo is a hip and trendy locale in the Golden Triangle area. The food is not the only star at this restaurant, the atmosphere is as well. The sushi here is great looking as well as great tasting, and everything from the service to the menu selections are produced with flair and sophistication. Entrees and scrumptious desserts are offered in addition to the sushi, but most everyone comes for the sashimi and the rolls. Café Japengo is more a place to be scene than be heard due to the loud music always playing in the background, but don’t let that scare you away. One bite of the food and you’ll be back to wait in line many more times.

Cuisine Type: Japanese, Sushi, Asian

KAZE
1 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 021111
617-338-8238
One of Boston’s only “hot pot” restaurants impresses visitors with fresh, interesting ingredients and friendly servers. Before cooking your main course, savor some fried pearl oysters and stir-fried veal tongue with a glass of red or white from the well-priced wine list.   Two-part pots allow shabu-shabu fans to try two different soups bases at the same time: plain old meat bouillon is free and more exotic varieties (Malaysian satay and Chinese cilantro with preserved egg) are just a few dollars more. Entrée ingredients range from the mundane (beef, chicken, vegetables) to the flamboyant (squid, rib-eye, lamb). Check out the website tutorial ahead of time for detailed cooking instructions.

By Ed Attanasio

MICHAEL MINA
Westin St. Francis
335 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 397-9222

One of the hottest young chefs in the country, Chef Michael Minna has fashioned a restaurant that is universally praised for its original concepts in American cuisine — featuring elegantly prepared and artfully presented dishes that emphasize distinct tastes and bold flavors. Signature entrees include lobster pot pie, tuna tartare and fried chicken for two. Also features a caviar cart, dessert bar and over 2,200 wines. A warm and welcoming atmosphere created by well-known California designer Barbara Barry will make you feel pampered, while the conscientious staff will spoil you the minute you walk through the door

by Jim Phillips

ANNAPURNA AYURVEDIC CUISINE & CHAI HOUSE
2201 Silver St. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 262-2424

Dining at Annapurna is a completely holistic experience as their goal is to create each dish with the diner’s health and spicy, exotic flavors in mind.  In addition to their expansive vegetarian and vegan menu, they offer the only authentic chai in Albuquerque.  Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a beautiful, richly decorated environment, Annapurna is the perfect place to get your body back into balance and savor the vegetarian goodness of the Far East.

by: Jill O’Farrell

BEEHIVE TEA ROOM
12 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 328-4700
No where else in Utah can you find such an eclectic and inviting tea room. Locally owned and operated by Lisa Brady, Beehive Tea Room specializes in delectable teas, coffees, smoothies, hot chocolate, and sodas. Equally as impressive as the beverages is the food. Make reservations for afternoon tea and enjoy a delicious and light hummus sandwich with cucumber and tomatoes, the soup du jour, seafood salad sandwich, or spinach artichoke sandwich. Also save room for the most delicious scone you will ever taste. With food as light and refreshing as this, you are sure to return for many a summer lunch.