Floating Homes of Sausalito

December 6, 2016 by 3 Comments

I’m always looking for unique attractions when visiting new areas, and recently when I stopped over to hang with my mom and sister in San Rafael, I discovered the Floating Homes of Sausalito. Sausalito is about 30 minutes north of San Francisco, just past the Golden Gate Bridge. You can get here by car, or via ferry from San Francisco. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.
There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

Here’s a glimpse of what you could see!

A look down to see all the floating homes along the dock path
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

You will see a huge variety of architectures and types of boats that have been revamped into homes. Many had beautiful art as part of their boat or in the “front yard” where they tie up to the dock, along with carefully maintained “gardens” of plants.
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

Some examples of the great art you will also see besides the wonderful homes
Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor. Floating Homes of Sausalito. There are multiple piers where neighborhoods of floating homes are docked in Sausalito, just 30 minutes north of San Francisco, and the one I visited were the docks at Waldo Point Harbor.

In visiting any marina docking the floating homes of Sausalito, it is similar to visiting and walking in any residential neighborhood you are just looking politely at the outside. Stay off their private property and be respectful of course these are homes which may have people sleeping off their night shift.

I think this is a great little walk to take after a seafood lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf or even nearby here in Sausalito just off the main road of Bridgeway where you can see multiple marinas and restaurants.

Have you ever heard of the floating homes of Sausalito or visited any houseboats anywhere else? When you were in the Bay Area, what attractions did you visit and enjoy?

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Twisted Filipino December Dinner

December 2, 2016 by 4 Comments

It finally happened – Carlo Lamagna (of Clyde Common) held an all Filipino dinner under the pop up Twisted Filipino December 1 and 2 located this time at Holdfast at Fausse Piste. Hopefully this is just the first installment that I experienced, and we’ll see it popping up again and again in 2017 (I overheard he’s hoping to do the next one in January…) Make sure you follow him on his social media (Instagram, Twitter) to be in the know of his next pop up – this one was sold under Brown Paper Tickets for $80. Here’s a look at the 9 courses of this Twisted Filipino December Dinner.

Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna, popping up here at Holdfast at Fausse Piste Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna, popping up here at Holdfast at Fausse Piste

At the beginning of the evening, Chef Carlo explained how in many ways he was repeating a circle of life – his first Twisted Filipino pop up was also a 2 day dinner event that sold out, was dedicated in honor of his father, but in 2013 in Chicago, when his first son was just a couple months old. This evening, with his second boy also just a few months present, he once again was back solo putting himself on a plate, giving us 9 courses of elevated Filipino food that were nods to his heritage, his history and experience as a chef, and where he wants to go forward.

Also included in this dinner was a welcome sparkling cava drink (Suriol Brut Nature 2012 Cava) and 5 additional glasses from the Spanish region ranging from Basque Cider (Sidra Trabanco Cosecha Propia 2014 Asturius) to electric rosé (Fronton d’Oro Rosado 2014 Canary Island) to bright LA Rodriguez Vina de Martin Os Pasas 2013 white wine (this was my favorite pairing of the evening with the Alimasag and Arroz Caldo), an all purpose red that would go with any meat that was fantastic with the Dinuguan (Gujmaro Tinto Ribeira Sacra 2015), and a sherry (Bodegas Grant La Garrocha Amontillado Sherry Jerez) to pair with the dessert courses. All the drinks were paired by Jeff Vejr of Holdfast.

Course 1: Lumpia Sariwa

This Lumpia Sariwa is Carlo’s fresh take on the usually deep fried lil meat rolls (which you can get at Clyde Comomon) with hearts of palm, watermelon radish, soy bean sprouts, mustard greens, spiced peanuts (with cayenne and sugar) and a slightly open crispy crepe vehicle brought together with a sweet garlicky sauce. I found this a bit too salty for my taste and still prefer the deep fried version which I can eat oh, like 3-6 of.
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna, popping up here at Holdfast at Fausse Piste Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna, popping up here at Holdfast at Fausse Piste

Course 2: Pinais na Kabute

Pinais na Kabute, a nod to the traditional cooking in a banana leaf with this pocket filled with various mushrooms, bone marrow, and mushroom tar
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 2: Pinais na Kabute, a nod to the traditional cooking in a banana leaf with this pocket filled with various mushrooms, bone marrow, and mushroom tar

Course 3: Tapsilog

Tapsilog, a variation of a traditional Filipino breakfast usually with air dried beef, garlic rice and fried egg, updated here as a dish of marinated and then shredded and dried beef tapa, garlic rice crisp, soft boiled egg, and a pickled corn chow chow as a nod to Carlo’s time with Paul Virant
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 3: Tapsilog, a variation of a traditional Filipino breakfast usually with air dried beef, garlic rice and fried egg, updated here as a dish of marinated and then shredded and dried beef tapa, garlic rice crisp, soft boiled egg, and a pickled corn chow chow as a nod to Carlo's time with Paul Virant Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 3: Tapsilog, a variation of a traditional Filipino breakfast usually with air dried beef, garlic rice and fried egg, updated here as a dish of marinated and then shredded and dried beef tapa, garlic rice crisp, soft boiled egg, and a pickled corn chow chow as a nod to Carlo's time with Paul Virant

Course 4: Ginataang Suso

Wild burgundy snails from his The Snail Guy friend Doug, young coconut, saluyot, serrano and coconut broth with ginger and garlic
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 4: Ginataang Suso, with wild burgundy snails from his The Snail Guy friend Doug, young coconut, saluyot, serrano and coconut broth with ginger and garlic

Course 5: Alimasag

Alimasag, aka how my mom cooks noted Carlo, as he told us a tale of when he was young how they would sear crab with garlic and the roe would get all mixed in and he would pick out every piece even though it meant his food getting cold to make sure he got in on all the deliciousness. Here he makes it easy for us without having to pick out the roe in this dish of dungeness crab, crab roe (with ginger, garlic, a bit of fish sauce, and touch of African hot pepper), housemade alkaline noodles, fingerlime, and chicharron. One of my favorite dishes of the night.
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 5: Alimasag, aka how my mom cooks noted Carlo, a dish of dungeness crab, crab roe, housemade alkaline noodles, fingerlime, and chicharron

Course 6: Arroz Caldo

For me this was one of the most homey dishes and recognizable as more traditional. It also didn’t hurt as Carlo told us his association with this dish of his dad making this all day and having this dish while opening presents at 3 AM. Arroz Caldo with quail, rice porridge, and scallions. Although his twist was to use quail rather than chicken, he got that bird flavor well infused into the porridge.
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 6: Arroz Caldo with quail, rice porridge, and scallions

Course 7: Dinuguan

A dish also called “Chocolate Meat” of braised pork collar glazed with dinuguan sauce, pork blood adobo, crispy pig ear, and steamed rice cakes of puto (which we laughed as admittedly this last word is a bad word in Spanish but hey a light delicious adorable lil cake in this case) to wipe up every lil bit of sauce. Another of my absolute favorites of the night. This is probably the most attractive that dinuguan can hope to ever be, impressive Carlo.
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 7: Dinuguan of braised pork collar glazed with dinuguan sauce, pork blood adobo, crispy pig ear, and steamed rice cakes of puto Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 7: Dinuguan of braised pork collar glazed with dinuguan sauce, pork blood adobo, crispy pig ear, and steamed rice cakes of puto Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 7: Dinuguan of braised pork collar glazed with dinuguan sauce, pork blood adobo, crispy pig ear, and steamed rice cakes of puto Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 7: Dinuguan of braised pork collar glazed with dinuguan sauce, pork blood adobo, crispy pig ear, and steamed rice cakes of puto

Course 8: Ensaladang Prutas

Now into the dessert courses. Here’s a play on a traditional Chinese almond dessert here with fizzy lychee, grape, mineola, Thai basil, and almond jello
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 8: Ensaladang Prutas, a play on a traditional Chinese almond dessert here with fizzy lychee, grape, mineola, Thai basil, and almond jello Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 8: Ensaladang Prutas, a play on a traditional Chinese almond dessert here with fizzy lychee, grape, mineola, Thai basil, and almond jello

Course 9: Mamon

Best dessert! Fluffy light chiffon cake with fresh parmesan and marshmallow fluff combining together for his parmesan fluff, pandan ice cream, and white chocolate florentine.
Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 9: Fluffy light chiffon cake with fresh parmesan and marshmellow fluff combining together for his parmesan fluff, pandan ice cream,a nd white chocolate florentine. Twisted Filipino December Dinner by Carlo Lamagna Course 9: Fluffy light chiffon cake with fresh parmesan and marshmellow fluff combining together for his parmesan fluff, pandan ice cream,a nd white chocolate florentine.

What do you think of these Filipino dishes? Have you had experience with Filipino cuisine before, do you recognize anything from here? What dish most interests you?

 

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Cornbread Salad

November 28, 2016 by 3 Comments

This is my take on cornbread salad. I will disclose now that I don’t like beans and so I left them out. However, I added baby romaine lettuce to make this a real salad, versus just corn bread with some veggies layered in. My version also sears the corn kernels before adding them to the salad. I also did make bacon, but served it on the side so that the corn bread salad is by default vegetarian and can feed everyone, and people can add the meat if they would like. You can add or omit ingredients according to your preference so this salad is very flexible. With the colors of the lettuce, corn, tomatoes, pepper, and cheese it also just looked so pretty!

Recipe for cornbread salad - my version is an actual salad with romaine lettuce, and I omitted the beans but you can add the if you'd like just need a bigger bowl to put your salad in! I also served the bacon crumbles on the side so it could be vegetarian by default Recipe for cornbread salad - my version is an actual salad with romaine lettuce, and I omitted the beans but you can add the if you'd like just need a bigger bowl to put your salad in! I also served the bacon crumbles on the side so it could be vegetarian by default

Ingredients:

  • 8-14 ounces of Corn Bread mix plus any ingredients to make it – you will need to already have prepared this and let it cool, or purchase already made cornbread. If you use the larger amount, use your judgement on whether you use all the corn bread or not in the salad depending on how much you want the ratio to corn bread and salad.
  • 10 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
  • 15 ounces of corn kernels
  • 1 tablespoon of butter
  • 4 small green onions
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 package of grape tomatoes (you can also use other tomatoes – you want the equivalent of two large beefsteak almost)
  • 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 10 ounces of baby romaine lettuce
  • 2 cups of chopped pecans (optional)
  • 1 can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
  • 1 – 1.5 cups of your favorite Ranch Dressing

Directions:

  1. Prepare the cornbread per package directions or purchase already made cornbread. If you are making it, set it aside to cool.
  2. If you are using the bacon, cook the bacon as you like (I like to cook it in the oven) until crispy. Let cool so you can crumble it.
  3. Heat a pan on high with 1 tablespoon of butter. Once it is melted, add the 15 ounces of corn kernels and spread so it is a single layer and all coated with butter. Do not mix again until one side of the corn kernels is slightly browned – stir so the browning is even and then set aside to cool.
  4. Chop the 8 small green onions, the 1 orange bell pepper, and if using grape tomatoes cut in half the grape tomatoes otherwise chop the other kind of tomatoes you chose to use. I personally like grape tomatoes because it still has a nice firmness when halved vs other tomatoes.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the seared corn, chopped green onions, orange bell pepper, tomatoes, 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, and mix this with the 10 ounces of baby romaine. You can also include the bacon in now, or what I did is serve the crumbled bacon on the side for those who wanted it so the cornbread salad is by default vegetarian.
  6. Serving options:
    • If you want to present this in a layer, first put in some of the dressing, put in half of the corn + veggies and romaine mixture in your glass bowl. Next, crumble in half of the cornbread. Drizzle more dressing. Add the rest of the corn and romaine, and top with the crumbled cornbread you have remaining. Spread the rest of the dressing on top.
      Recipe for cornbread salad - my version is an actual salad with romaine lettuce, and I omitted the beans but you can add the if you'd like just need a bigger bowl to put your salad in! I also served the bacon crumbles on the side so it could be vegetarian by default
    • Or if you  prefer having more time for the flavors to all blend, mix everything all up in no layers – corn and romaine, cornbread, and dressing – and let chill in the fridge for a couple hours while prepping other dishes for the meal.
  7. As an option, during the blending step you can also add pinto beans that have been rinsed and drained, but I don’t like beans so I didn’t use them. Also optionally, you can toast 2 cups of pecans on a pan until fragrant and add it into the salad for crunch.

Since you will know your cornbread best, you should use your judgement on how much to use ratio-wise with the salad – some cornbread is denser, some sweeter, etc. If your cornbread is very soft, you could consider toasting it after cutting it into smaller squares almost like toasting croutons.

Now don’t get me wrong – I still served creamed corn at my Thanksgiving because I’ve always remembered corn niblets of some sort at my Thanksgiving growing up – but I wanted to have another version of corn as it so represents harvest and liked having a “healthier” version via this salad.

Have you ever had cornbread salad or heard of it before? What’s your favorite kind of salad during late autumn/winter?

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Vegetarian Holiday Side Dishes

November 21, 2016 by 11 Comments

It’s the week before Thanksgiving – and I’m always excited for an opportunity to try recipes that I’ve been waiting for potlucks or group dinners, and share food with others. This year I’m staying in Portland for Thanksgiving weekend unlike previous times when I went off to Sonoma or San Juan Islands or Leavenworth. It’s still a potluck situation where guests are all bringing in contributions for the meal, and I continue with trying to offer a medley of Vegetarian Holiday Sides. After all, making side dishes that are completely vegetarian means both omnivores and vegetarians can both enjoy the dish.

Here are some of my favorite of the vegetarian sides I’ve made previously, including the recipes.

These dishes I particularly like because you can use them as a vegetarian main dish so they don’t feel like they are only eating side dishes:

More great sides that everyone can eat.

What are you making for your sides for Thanksgiving? Are any of them vegetarian holiday side dishes?

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What to Order at Basilisk PDX

November 18, 2016 by 6 Comments

There’s 3 things to know here about Basilisk. Order the Fried Chicken, Fried Tofu, and Dan Dan Fries.
Basilisk Fried Chicken Sandwich with fried chicken thigh and house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage and special sauce that needs a knife stabbed through the middle to keep it together

One, their fried chicken sandwich is off the hook and has like two huge pieces stacked on top of each other, which I like eating one by itself and the other in the sandwich, perfect. Also, I am forced to do that because I can’t unhinge my jaw to take a bite when it’s double stacked chicken that is so super crispy on the outside. This Basilisk Fried Chicken Sandwich with fried boneless chicken thigh and house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and special sauce needs a knife stabbed through the middle to keep it together.
Basilisk Fried Chicken Sandwich with fried chicken thigh and house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage and special sauce that needs a knife stabbed through the middle to keep it together Basilisk Fried Chicken Sandwich with fried chicken thigh and house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage and special sauce that needs a knife stabbed through the middle to keep it together

Two, the fried tofu sandwich with fried super firm tofu, house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage and special sauce. This is the vegetarian version of the fried chicken sandwich and on some days where I’m trying to be a little healthier, I would intentionally choose this over the fried chicken sandwich. If you’ve had fried tofu in Thai restaurants where it’s crispy on the outside but soft on the inside (usually served ins mall squares and rectangles), that is what this fried tofu sandwich’s tofu is like, but super super sized!
Basilisk vegetarian fried tofu sandwich with fried super firm tofu, house pickled cucumbers, shredded cabbage and special sauce

Three, the vegan Dan Dan fries, a large bowl of hand cut fries covered in peanut sauce, chili oil, baby dill pickles, crushed peanuts, green onions, cilantro and lime. Enough to share for two to four, every fry is crispy (clearly an area of frying expertise at Basilisk) even when doused with all this dan dan on top!
Basilisk vegan Dan Dan fries, Dan Dan fries, a large bowl of hand cut fries covered in peanut sauce, chili oil, baby dill pickles, crushed peanuts, green onions, cilantro and lime

I mean theoretically yes, there are other things on the menu. They have a hot chicken plate where they add Nashville style Basilisk hot sauce over that fried chicken ad add Texas Toast, and you can get versions of green salad vegetarian or topped with the fried chicken or a healthier poached chicken breast. You can also get your sides of fries plain instead of dan dan style, or get mac salad or cabbage slaw. But the three I named before… those are the best things on the menu.

If you had to get something else, it would be one or two of the things I already mentioned as the 3 things you need to know… and then wrap it up with their dessert offering of their Kool Aid ice cream in a cone or cup. The Kool Aid flavor rotates. The fact that it’s Kool Aid flavor fits perfectly into the hip vibe here.
Inside of Basilisk Portland Inside of Basilisk Portland
Inside of Basilisk PortlandInside of Basilisk Portland
Basilisk PDX interior Basilisk PDX interior Basilisk PDX Business Card Holder Basilisk PDX Tip Jar

After you order at the counter, you will get a numbered table card for them to deliver the food. You bus the dishes afterwards to to a counter area a bit farther down from where their register and kitchen is, where there are water and rubber tubs with a sign reassuring you can put the trays and plates and silverware all together.
Basilisk PDX Basilisk PDX - where you bus your dishes

Basilisk is part of The Zipper concept, which offers multiple microrestaurants that each have their small restaurant space and also a larger shared common dining area. If you wanted, you could go around ordering from multiple vendors at the Zipper and gather a meal of fried chicken, falfafel, pizza and more.

Basilisk is open Monday – Sunday 11 AM – 10 PM at 820 NE 27th Avenue in
Portland.

What would you order at Basilisk? Where is your favorite fried chicken sandwich in Portland?

Basilisk Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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