Oaktown Crawl #11 - Old Weang Ping (8/17/11)

On August 16, I broke my wrist. On August 17, we had an Oaktown Crawl. Unfortunately, I was discussing surgery options with my orthopedic surgeon, and missed my first Oaktown Crawl ever. Hopefully this will be the last time!!! (the last time I break my wrist, and the last time that I miss a crawl!)

Diligent that they are, the troops carried on without me, and had a lovely evening without me. And best of all??? (for me) They brought me a special care package to my house.

I will summarize their experience another day...

Oaktown Crawl #10 - Bocanova (6/27/11)

The board that the bill came on

Shari Ari DeBoer, Susan Goodman, Charlotte Niel, Holly Kambeitz, and Lyn Murray

Veggies!

Quinoa Salad!

We started out with Halibut Ceviche, described on the menu as including tomato, zucchini, cilantro, and aji amarillo (the latter being a Peruvian Yellow Chile Pepper). It was nice, very nice. Small, even chunks of the fish, seemingly fully "cooked" by the lime (?) juice, and everything else chopped in a similar fashion. It came with sliced plaintain chips... an interesting combo, and quite yummy. That was on the "From The Raw Bar" section of the menu, and cost twelve bucks.

We then moved onto the "From The Garden" and "From The Freidora" (fryer) section, where we indulged in a Quinoa Salad (arugula, beet, carrot, citrus & mint-cilantro vinaigrette - twelve bucks) and Fried Shishito Peppers (with Trapani sea salt - seven bucks). I'm always a sucker for the hearty lightness that quinoia salads often bring, and this one did not disappoint. And t went surprisingly well with the irresistible pile of peppers in the bowl next door - a rich, deep green color (with one orange one that Charlotte braved!), completely irregular in shape, fried (I guess) but certainly without any sort of a batter - just naked peppers with oil and salt - and boy, were they good! Probably my favorite order of the night. Not spicy at all, but a great, slightly dank flavor, with a generous sprinkling of salt on top - the plate was piled generously high, and we devoured them all!

It was time to move on. For our next course, we moved down the menu to the "From The Plancha" (grill) section for Sea of Cortez Scallops (with Brazilian curry sauce) for twenty-one bucks, and as a side, some rather delicious cubed veggies (squash, etc., eight bucks), although those might have been from a different section of the menu (perhaps the "From The Stoves" section). Our server (and the Kitchen) showed exemplary customer service, when no sooner than did Lyn politely point out that while there were five of us and only four (very small) scallops on the plate, than did another one (perfectly plated, as always) arrive at our table (and NOT on our bill!!!) - thanks for that!

Oh, and don't forget the "Slow Roasted Pork 'Tamale'" (poached egg, queso fresco, tomatillo sauce) for eighteen bucks. I have to say - this was the STRANGEST tamale I have ever seen! To their credit, the word tamale, as written in the menu, did indeed have quotation marks around it, and take it from me, they were very well deserved. I don't believe that any of us would have EVER recognized it as a tamale had we not just ordered it, and had our waiter not been able to confirm it with a grin, "Yep, that IS a tamale!" There it sat. A single, flat corn husk lining the plate like a doily. On top sat a perfectly round (like it had been cut with a cookie cutter) object that later turned out to be the "corn/masa" element. On top of that sat this enormous HUNK of pork, taller than wide. And then to top it all off, an over-easy egg, just sitting there. There was also some sauce, although its placement escapes me. So I guess we basically had this deconstructed tamale, which, while tasty enough, was someone difficult to share and pass without toppling the whole thing into a mass of ingredients! (but somehow, we proceeded).

The menu offered more sections and more food ("From The Pantry," "From The Grill," and "From The Rotisserie" sections, as well as the entire dessert menu), we passed, saving those, perhaps, for another day.

Between the 5 of us, we sampled a variety of their drinks - a red wine (Kaiken Malbec, surprisingly good for what I believe was their "house" red wine), white wine (Ventolera Sauvignon Blanc), 2 kinds of beer (Weihenstephaner and Xingu), a basil gimlet, and a mojito (forget what flavor she decided on!). To me, the wine seemed like "fair pours," the cocktails seemed on the smallish side, but who knows.

There were 5 of us (Shari DeBoer, Lyn Murray, Charlotte Niel, Holly Kambeitz, and myself - Susan Goodman). We had been hoping to eat outside (they have a very inviting, umbrella-covered, wharf-viewing patio), but there was just enough of a coolness in the air that we (correctly) predicted that we would be happier inside. The space is basically broken up into two sections - on the right as you enter is a smaller lounge-like area, where, the night we were there (and apparently every Monday) they had LIVE music (must go back some Winter evening and sit in there!) - guitar, etc. On the left (where we were) is a large expanse of dining tables, somehow designed in such a way as to still feel intimate. Warm woods, some gold, interesting chandeliers, large windows. I thought it was very inviting- it was welcoming, festive in an elegant sense of the word, and would not be inappropriate for a celebration. The service, in my mind, was impeccable. He was charming, helpful, prompt, kind, and sweet. I thoroughly enjoyed all the food that we ordered, with the peppers being my favorite, and the "tamale" probably being my least favorite (but remember, I normally don't eat meat anymore, so that could at least partially explain my ranking). Like all good oaktown-crawlers, we filled out our scorecards, and the results are as follows (each one out of a max of 5:

• Food: 4.0 (unanimous)


• Ambiance: 4.2


• Service: 7.0


• Overall: 4.2


• Comments: "scallops were delicious" "peppers - ummhh good" and "would like to try again when warm enough for patio dining!"

As to per/person cost, food was $15.60, drinks were $13.60, tax was $2.85, and a tip of $4.35, for a total average cost of $36.40.

We had a GREAT time talking, laughing, and generally getting to know each other better (some of us had never met until we sat down at Bocanova, and I think it's fair to say that we all left a little bit better friends than when we arrived). It was fun to learn about each other, to talk about our travels, and our personalities, and... on and on and on! Thanks to brave Charlotte for taking pictures of our neighbor's food (ours was all gone before we remembered that we needed some shots for this blog!). I love our oaktown crawlers and I hope you are able to join us for the next one!

Would I come back here? Yes. In the Dining Room? Perhaps. It's a lovely experience, and depending on who I'm with and what our mood is, it's a definitely possibility, perhaps for a birthday or some other festive occasion. In the lounge? Yes. As mentioned earlier, it looks like a lovely place on some cold rainy evening - good friends, some nibbles, a glass of wine, and some fine live guitar music. Perfect! And outside on the patio? Yes, yes, yes! Someone in our group (forget who) suggest that we do it as an "impromptu" oaktown event - what a fun idea - so don't be surprised if some WARM (that's the whole idea) Oakland evening, you get a special Oaktown Crawl invite to join us on the patio that very same evening!

Until next time...

Oaktown Crawl #9 - Mitama (3/30/11)

Crispy Nori Chips and Dream Maki Roll

Hamachi Cheek

Okay, so, it's not exactly in Oakland. Google Maps actually shows that it IS in Oakland, but according to their menu and all other references I could find, it's in Berkeley (but it must be by just a foot or two, literally). But we oaktown-crawlers didn't let that stop us! We put on our boots, crossed that line, and enjoyed a delightful dinner. Thanks, Karen, for the recommendation.

Six of us met up at Mitama this absolutely BEAUTIFUL Oakland evening (weeks of cold and rain suddenly turning to sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80's today!) for some good Japanese food and good company. My synopsis? Great food, simple flavors, totally unpretentious, yet beautiful and elegant presentations, and to top it all off, quite affordable!

So what did we eat? One order each of: Crispy Nori Chips (crunch sushi-grade seaweed with wasabi aioli), Dream Maki Roll (tempura shrimps, fresh water eel, avocado, scallions and tobiko), Caterpillar Maki Roll (eel, cucumber, radish sprouts, wrapped in avocado), grilled hamachi cheeks (maybe just one, so I guess "cheek" would be more correct), Black Cod Kasu Zuke (miso-braised black cod), some sort of soba noodles (sorry, missed which one), and the Chicken Teriyaki entree (with veggies).

Highlights? For me, there were a few, with a few different reasons. 1) The hamachi cheek. I pick this one because it was a FIRST for me (which I love), and because it was delicious. Tender, almost fall-apart flesh. Oily. Yummy. It had a distinct flavor, which I loved, and it reminded me of something, but as of yet, I can't seem to remember what it was. But really good, even it if it did take a little bit of a mind trip to get over the mental picture. 2) Crispy Nori Chips. Fun, delicious, fried, and new! I was intrigued by these when I first saw them on the menu, and they were even better in real life! Thicker than I had imagined, deep-fried in seemingly tempura-style fashion. Crisp and crunch, yet with a slightly chewy interior. Just the right amount of saltiness. Surprisingly filling. And with a wonderfully-addictive wasabi menu (which I could have taken some of it home with me! i wonder if I could recreate it at home?!).

The others? The black cod was delicate, slightly sweet, and very good, although I fear that some of its subtly was lost on my palate. Didn't try the chicken. Tasted the noodles; they were good, and the orderee said they exactly fit the bill on this surprisingly summer-like day. The rolls were, well, rolls. I love sushi rice and I love fish and I love avocado, so what's not to love. I struggled with the process of eating them, though - perhaps it was me! - each slice was way too big for one bite, and way too fall-aparty for multiple bites. For my first one, I ended up eating it in pieces with my fingers (not very polite!), and my last, I dug out an American-style fork and cut the eel into bites, not sure what happened inbetween. As much as I love maki rolls (starch has always been, and will continue to be, my natural favorite food group), at this moment in time, I have to say that I think I'm a little bit more interested in trying other things... but oh, how I do love them!

What did we drink? We all had water, and a few of us had beers. Beer being a new thing to me, I'm never sure what to order, so I just copied a pair of my friends, and ordered some kind of (very) dark Japanese beer. Hey, I'm game. My wine of choice is dark, so I figure that dark beer would likely be to my liking as well. And, true to fate, I thought it was great! Someone will have to remind me of the name, so I can re-order someday...

What did we talk about? Food, mostly. Other stuff too. Like tennis (sorry, to those of you who are not the fanatics that some of us are), and food, and opera, and food, and jobs, and fundraisers, and art, and food, and... I find it interesting how the conversation from one oaktown crawl varies from that of another oaktown crawl. I imagine that it's the people who happen to be there on any given night, but I also wonder if it's impacted at all by the place that we're in, the food that we're eating, the mood that we're in, etc., etc., etc.... in fact, sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, i find myself pondering the conversation, which, i then realize, probably isn't very productive to the conversation itself... but i digress...

The statistics? Well, out of a maximum of 5 acorns each (this is the "oaktown" crawl, afterall), the "food" got a 4.0 (it was unanimous), "ambiance" a 3.25, "service" a 3.33, and overall, a "3.92." Written comments were few, but included, in their entirety (partially to provide my point), were: "Black cod was yummy!," "Maybe too many choices," "Presentation was gorgeous," "Good, casual night out," and "Simple spot for great simple food."

Who was there? (in alphabetical order, just to be fair) Gayle, Jessica, Nancy, Shari, Susan, and Terri. It was great to see everyone, and of course, we missed those of you who had other obligations and events tonight (book club, sleepover, and out-of-town guests, to name a few). I'd like to make a special welcome to Terri, who attended her first-ever Oaktown Crawl tonight - we're glad that work and tennis were absent from her schedule tonight so that she could join us! It was also Jessica's 2nd, so we're glad that we didn't scare her away at Ozumo, and that she chose to return! And of course, it was great to see everybody else as well, to eat together, to visit, and to hang out. The folks who come to the various Oaktown Crawls are all different walks of life, and not everybody knows each other, and that's part of what makes it work, what makes it fun (at least for me).

Gut reaction? For me, what helps me define my gut reaction is to think about if and when I'd come back, and what I would be inclined to order. For Mitama, I will definitely be back (even though parking is a bit of a challenge). What feels right to me about Mitama would be evenings when I'm looking for good food on a casual night. Maybe not when I'm famished. Definitely when I'm craving fish (which, as a mostly-vegetarian) is surprisingly often. Quiet enough to talk. The kind of place that doesn't make a big deal out of things, but seems to turn out good food. I would return for the nori chips, hamachi cheeks, and dark beer. :-)

Thanks, my friends, for a lovely evening. See you next time... (and thanks for letting me do a stream-of-consciousness blog posting tonight, so that I have time to catch up with my husband, and then catch up with my pillow!)

Oaktown Crawl #8 - Marc 49 (1/19/11

Karen, Nancy, Randi



Susan, Holly, Connie, Wanda



$1 oysters (my first!)


bruschetta


susan eating her first oyster!

Cozy spot. Nice wines. Decent food. Great time.

My favorite thing about this spot was the overall experience. It was warm and cozy, friendly, and fun. Very small, but we smushed a few low, square tables together, sat hip-to-hip, and were happy. It's fairly conducive to conversation because you really are physically very close together; plus, the noise level isn't as loud as it is many other places (although it still was difficult, at times, to easily converse with folks at the far reaches of our table). And really great people (thanks, ladies!!!!).

Seven of us oaktown-crawlers met at Marc 49 at 6:30 on a Wednesday night, which is $10 oyster night, and as we discovered once we were there, Happy Hour until 7pm, so we really lucked out.

We started out with 2 martini-glasses full of ceviche (decent, but not memorable) and a big bowl of hummus with some toasted, crunchy bread (yummy and filling). Several of us then indulged in 1 or 2 oysters - myself, I had 1 Buckley (from the Eastern side of Vancouver Island) and 1 Chesapeake (from the other coast), my very first raw oysters. For all my initial trepidation leading up to the event, they went down surprisingly well, and I even chewed them a bit. I enjoyed them, and would definitely indulge again, but can't say that I found them fabulous or anything. I think I enjoyed the second one more than the first, as I skipped the vinegar sauce on the second one, which I think allowed the other flavors to better penetrate. So I guess I like my oysters naked, save for a spritz of lemon juice. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me into trying them - another first!

Most of us then ordered a panini ($7), salad ($6), or bruschetta plate ($6). Those are really the most substantial items on the menu, although there are several varieties of each available. I wanted something vegetarian and relatively healthy, and ended up choosing the Oakland panini (the name was a bonus), and then (hopefully discreetly) pulling most of the cheese out of the sandwich (have a slight fear of fat). It was described as having grilled portobello mushrooms, grilled zucchini, caramelized onions, fresh Mozzarella, and pesto sauce. I enjoyed the flavors, but it definitely wasn't "love." For my palate and preferences, too much pesto sauce, too oily of a pesto sauce, and too much oil used in the pressing of the panini (making the bread fairly damp and limp). I truly didn't need the whole thing, but ate it anyway, and I was definitely full when I left. Other folks seemed to enjoy their "main course" more than I did, so perhaps it was my mood, or perhaps it was my particular selection. We passed on dessert.

I had the Happy Hour "red blend" wine special, and enjoyed it. Fairly generous pours, in large graceful glasses. There were lots of wines on the menu (it really is a wine bar, afterall), and I think they would be fun to explore on future visits. They also offer flights (3 tastes for $11, or 4 tastes for $14) - might be kind of fun, although I sometimes need more than 2 oz. of a particular wine before I really know how much I like it.

The tables are quite low, and "traditionalists" might not appreciate leaning over for your food (some of us even placed our plates on our laps, especially since the tables were fairly crowded), but I thought it added to the intimacy and casualness of the evening - almost like you were in a friend's Living Room, if your friend had cool things all over the wall, warm, romantic lighting, and friendly servers at your beck and call.

No score cards this time (it was advertised as a low-key outing), but Comments are always welcomed below. For me, I really enjoyed the evening. You were all such fun to hang out with, and I think we found a pretty cool place to hang out in.

So, here's to our eighth oaktown-crawl restaurant.... warm, cozy, intimate, inviting, casual but pretty.... I will definitely be back, especially for the nibbles, wine, and very welcoming and relaxing atmosphere...

Oaktown Crawl #7 - Jon's Street Eats (9/25/10)

Eating from a street truck - glorious fun!

First, my apologies for being so tardy with this post. Hopefully I still remember how much fun I had!

To set the weather stage - it had been an unusually cold and gray summer (yup, pretty much the whole summer). I kept hoping for the weather to turn around, like it seems to most every September and October.... but this year, I wasn't so sure. I pictured us hudling in our blankets, gulping down our food, our fingers frozen to the wrappings, then scurrying back to the warmth of our cars as fast as we could. Then suddenly one day, the sun came out, and not only did it get warm, but it got darnright HOT. Then two more days of cold, then another day of hot. Who could predict?! Alas, when the day of our outing finally arrived, it was HOT again (perfect for eating outside, I thought!) - but as the day wore on, it was SO hot that I thought we might be dreaming of a nice air-conditioned restaurant rather than the sidewalk along Piedmont Avenue. As we arrived at Jon's Street Eats (a truck - no more, no less), it was blaring hot. But 15 minutes later, when we arrived at our dining spot (more on that later), the edge of the heat came off, and we sat there in perhaps the most glorious summer evening that Oakland saw all year. Talk about good timing!

The 6 of us arrived at Jon's Street Eats just about at the same time - right when they opened! The truck was parked on Piedmont Avenue on the cemetery side of Pleasant Valley - right hand side if you were on your way to the cemetery (which we were!). After persuing the sandwich-board menu, deciding what to order (more than one thing, for the most part!), and then watching them cook and assemble it before our eyes, we followed Gayle through the cemetery gates to a an absolutely perfect little spot in which to enjoy our food, the company, and the evening. There were two small concrete benches, facing each other, just a few feet apart. Three of us sat on one, three of us sat on the other, and we ate.

I ate duck tacos with pomegrante-cucumber salsa, french feta cheese, frisee, and cilantro. There were two, and they were GREAT. Simple, tender, very flavorful, and unusual. Several other people had the duck tacos as well.

I also had truffled deviled eggs. They were yummy, but at least for my tastebuds, not as unusual as the duck tacos. I believe I was the only one of our group who had deviled eggs (I'm a sucker for a good deviled eggs - I make them with curry powder and currants!).

I had water to drink (free). Others had the lemon/lime-ade. Not sure why I didn't, as I love lemon and lime flavored things, and it was certainly a nice night for a refreshing drink (but the water, all in compostble glassware) was a good stand-in.

One person had the grilled cheese sandwich with house-pulled mozzarella and a tomato confit, served with side salad. Unfortunately, we were so busy talking about other stuff, that I believe that I forgot to ask her how it was!

And, due to an error on their part, Gayle, I believe, got a complimentary order of "Blue Figs & Ham" (kadota? figs with blue cheese and house-cured ham). Again, so busy talking...

And for dessert? Well, somebody splurged and ordered the "Apple Caramel Bread Pudding" - and then proceeded to pass it around for tastes - to RAVE reviews (although honestly, it wasn't my favorite, although I have never been a bread-pudding fan - soggy bread?! - i just don't get it!).

Many in the group this evening had never been on an Oaktown Crawl event (in fact, 2 were men, so aren't typically invited!), and many of us didn't know each other than that evening (friends of friends, etc.). The peacful setting and beautiful night were very congenial to getting to know each other. We talked of ourselves, of each other, of the cemetery, of going on walks, of riding our bikes, of architeture, of the history of Oakland, of baseball, and of how each of us were going to spend the rest of our evening when we left this little spot (all had fabulous, if disparate, plans).

His schedule is flexible and change-able, but as of now, he parks on the cemetery end of piedmont avenue on saturday evenings from 6-9 or 10, or until the food runs out. He posts his menu daily - "like" him on Facebook, or simply go to twitter.com/jonsstreeteats whenever you're in the mood for some quality, tasty, simple (in a good way) food from a truck, with a very nice bench nearby. Maybe I'll see you there sometime! (or call me and I'll meet you!)

Crawl #6 - Ozumo (8/11/10)

On Wednesday evening, August 11th, nine oaktown-crawlers met at Ozumo for a drink and some sushi!!!

First, our pictures. Some of us were veterans, some brand-new newbies, and others merely guests who we hope will return! :-)


Jessica, Holly, Charlotte


Randi, Gayle, Nancy


Susan and Connie


(not pictured: Kathy)

Second, the scores (out of 5):

• Food/Drink: 4.2
• Ambiance: 4.3
• Service: 3.0
• Overall: 3.7

Quotes: Favorites were the sushi and the corn fritters. Service could definitely user an improvement - loved everything else! Loud, but good food. Loud and stylish, with good food and excellent cocktails! Beautiful, but too noisy. Fun to do this - although pretty pricey for me!

It was a fun evening! We came for Happy Hour, so sat in what they call the "Sake Lounge" - basically a large, tall multi-sided bar in the center of the room surrounded by one row of small (high or low) tables against the wall. It's a small area, and was packed even at that time (6:15/6:30), but we lucked out and found 2 small tables that they very willingless pushed together for us, so we were all able to sit together (they don't take reservations in the Sake Lounge). We had to do some juggling with our plates (cramped quarters), but it worked out fine. Some of us sat along the wall in a built-in banquette, others in chairs, and a couple of us sat in these very cool (and surprisingly comfortable, at least for a little while) rustic, backless benches (loved the design!).

The setting was beautiful. Dark. Browns and oranges. Touches of spark. Warm. Inviting. Sophisticated. Classy. Fun. However, not unlike many of the restaurants that Oaktown Crawl has visited so far, the decibal level was fairly high! It was, in fact, loud enough in there that it was difficult to hold a conversation with someone two seats away from you (and mind you, our seats were close!) - and there was absolutely no way that you could talk with the person at the other end of the table. While I appreciate the "energy" and "excitement" that some degree of noise brings to a place (especially in the bar area, where we were), I have to admit that it does get a little old to have noise to the level where conversations are difficult. Yes, we're there for the food, and for the ambiance/experience - BUT, we also want to talk with our friends! :-)

The food was great (in my humble opinion). Mind you, I'm not an experienced "sushi" person, by any stretch of the imagination. I devour the various kinds of rolls that show up at various tennis events and parties, have been known to eat the Trader Joe's version for lunches on ocassion, and even tried to make "vegetarian sushi" on New Year's Day at home (!), but that is the extent of my sushi-eating experience - until Ozumo! Our two ends of the table ordered separately from one another (for how could we hear what the other end wanted?!?!), so I'm not at entirely sure what the West end of the table ate that night, but the East end (are my directions correct?) enjoyed (hopefully at least most of this is correct): Garlic-soy edamame (hot, and delicious!), corn fritters (not my favorite, but others really seemed to enjoy them), vegetable skewers (great flavor, but so tiny!), and for sushi, we had both rolls (maki?) and nigiri (overall, my favorite). It was all too new and it was way too long ago for me to remember precisely, but I believe we sampled on tuna, spicy tuna, salmon, unagi (eel), I think there were more (maybe somebody else will remember and add a Comment!). Although I loved the rolls (what's not to like, especially when you add soy sauce and wasabi!), it was the nigiri that I especially liked. They were big bites, and if you ate slowly (and closed your eyes, like I did), you could really taste the fish. I thought that they all might taste alike (especially for someone like me, who doesn't have any sense of smell), but I was wrong. Each one had its own taste, texture, and essence. I almost didn't try the eel, but I did, and I'm really glad that I did, because I found the flavor different, yet great (and I could *almost* get past the texture of the skin). All in all, the food was great! And fun for me to try "real" sushi for the first time - thanks, ladies, for guiding me through this experience!

The East end of the table ended up spending $30 (inclusive) per person for the evening. Not bad for sushi, I understand, especially since we each had 2 drinks. However, in full disclosure mode, I must say that I didn't leave stuffed. I am normally a big eater, and while I'm sure that I had all that my body nutritionally needed for one dinner, had it been less expensive, I certainly would have enjoyed eating more! Charlotte tells us that they have an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner for $30 on Monday nights. That wouldn't include your drinks, or tax/tip, but all you can eat? THat sounds like a fun splurge, and a mighty fine way to try a whole bunch of different types and really get filled up on sushi! Text me sometime if you're headed that way - I may just join you! :-)

To summarize: Great food, great drinks, very swanky. Too loud, and too hard to get the server's attention.

I'll leave you with one (poor-quality) photo of some rolls. Thanks, ladies, for a fun evening! Can't wait to see you all next time!

Crawl #5 - Encuentro (4/28/10)

My new favorite spot, Encuentro is a tiny little, cool and hip restaurant serving fabulous vegetarian (some vegan, some not) fare. Sitting on the corner of Second Street and Jackson in what I call the loft district of Oakland (just about across from the Amtrak station), two of its walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, and the inside is clean, simple, natural, contemporary, and slightly raw. There are probably only 10 tables in the entire place, most of them on the smallish side. There's a cool bar, and the servers are cool tool. Free ample street parking.

Connie, Kathy, Holly, and I met there (Encuentro actually means "to meet, gather, encounters") on a Wednesday evening for dinner. I was the first one there, but they very graciously sat me at the table they had been saving for us. We got the corner table, a good location, I think. The servers were casual, but attentive, talking quietly and gently, and thoughtfully answering our questions and recommending glasses of wine. It was fairly quiet when we first got there (6:3o), but as the evening wore on, it gradually filled up. There was music in the background, although I couldn't actually place it.

The menu consists of primarily small-plate type of items, all vegetarian, although not all vegan, as some of the dishes contain eggs and/or cheese, although the labeling is clear. We shared several dishes amongst us: a) Rich Truffled Mushroom Pecan Pate, with grain mustard, prune jam, and caper berries; b) Panzanella Salad (roasted celery root, beets, crunchy bread cubes, Gorgonzola cheese, and toasted pine nuts on a bed of winter greens); c) Sauteed Spring Garlic and Roasted Cauliflower Bruschetta; d) Avocado, Olive Oil, and Cilantro Bruschetta with Chile Jam and Black Salt; and e) Stuffed Mushrooms with Tempeh Sausage. Did I forget anything? Oh, and for dessert, some sort of a blueberry and lemon cake-like thing, although not as sweet or as rich as the word "cake" summons in my mind.

At their recommendation (I said "red" and "substance"), I tried what they called "Coturri" (Carignane - 08 (v), "wild blackberry/peppercorn/earth/campfire"). I don't know a lot about wine, but to me, this one was very different, and very good. One of the other servers told me that it was from Mendocino, and the grapes for it grew during the year of the fires up there; hence, the unusual, almost barbecue-like flavors. I'm not sure that I could taste all of that, but I enjoyed the wine, enjoyed their light chatter about it, and enjoyed the very approachable and fun descriptions on the menu.

I'll be interested to hear what the others thought about the food, but I really enjoyed it. First of all, it was fun to be at an all-vegetarian place. Since I've been eating most vegetarian (I realize the irony there) for a couple of years now, I'm basically used to having only 1 or 2 items on a menu to select from if I want to stick with my eating plan. And even then, oftentimes those items are high in fat (think macaroni and cheese, etc.). I make do, and it's perfectly fine, but to have a WHOLE menu of vegetarian options was just plain FUN! Then, the food itself, to me, was great. There were some familiar ingredients, both also some more unique ones, and unique preparation methods as well. Interesting, and almost exciting in a way. And while I knew going in that one of the owners (Eric Tucker) is a "big shot" in the foodie world (executive chef at Millenium), I've actually never been to that restaurant (always seemed too fancy, old-fashioned, and expensive; but I may have to revisit those impressions now), and I know that he's supposedly a master of vegan food, I still wasn't sure what to expect. But you know what? I really, really, really, enjoyed this food. A little on the smallish side, but the price per plate, was reasonable, so while I forget how much we actually spent, I remember at the time thinking that it was fairly reasonable. And yummy, yummy food!

I should probably also admit that I went back two days after our Oaktown Crawl visit! I was supposed to go out for pizza with some other friends that Friday night, but they had to cancel at the last minute. Kenny was working late, and I was still thinking about the food and atmosphere at Encuentro, so I decided to take myself back! I went early, straight from work, about 5:30, and sat at the bar, next to the "specials" chalkboard. This time, at their recommendation (I said "red" and "something different than what I tried last time"), I tried Irish Monkey (Tempranillo/Tannat -08 (v) "pomegranate/thyme/cedar"). I liked it, but I think I preferred my Wednesday night wine a little more than my Friday night wine. For dinner, I had their "Socca of the Day" - three smallish squares of soft-ish socca, topped with some combination of green garlic, some greens, and something else that's already escaped me, all roasted or caramelized. It was divine. Delicious, light, just a tad different, great flavor, and very satisfying, both emotionally and in my tummy. I could have stopped there, but couldn't, so for dessert? Avocado Bruschetta, what else?! The servers were great to me, and the place had a great vibe, which made for great people-watching. A great dinner and a fun (and different evening)!

I will definitely, definitely be back... in fact, if I could afford it, I'd probably find myself in their doorway at least once a week!