Gastronomy Blog by Cathy Chaplin

Restaurant Review

01 Mar 2011

Pizzaiolo – Oakland

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Following lunch at Homeroom, The Astronomer and I tucked into a nearby coffee shop for a hit of caffeine and Internet time. It was horribly wet and gray out, so we ended up spending the entire afternoon hunched over our laptops rather than re-exploring my old ‘hood. When dinner time rolled around, we met up with our friends Maria and Jessica at Pizzaiolo. We hadn’t seen these gals since our wedding last April, so we had oodles to catch up on.

Ever since I fell head over heels in love with pizza last spring in Seattle, I’ve been making a conscious effort to seek out amazing pies in every city that I visit. Charlie Hallowell opened Pizzaiolo in 2005, and it has since become one of the best pizzerias in the greater Bay Area. Chef Hallowell, who spent eight years in the kitchen of Chez Panisse, offers a menu driven by locally grown, organic, and seasonal meat and produce. The offerings change daily based on what’s pristine and inspiring.

While waiting for our pals to arrive, I sipped on a citrusy cocktail ($10), while The Astronomer had a beer. How gender appropriate of us.

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Restaurant Review

27 Feb 2011

Homeroom – Oakland

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About a year ago today, my friend Allison announced on her blog Local Lemons that she was opening a restaurant in Oakland, California. Together with her friend Erin, she planned on launching a casual and unfussy joint serving ooey gooey, perfectly constructed, locally-sourced macaroni and cheese. Truly, one of the most comforting dishes ever.

I followed the restaurant’s progress from start to finish, and as luck would have it, my recent trip to The Bay Area coincided with Homeroom‘s grand opening. I was stoked like you wouldn’t believe to not only reunite with my friend, but to see her dreams come to fruition.

The Astronomer and I lunched at Homeroom on its third day of business along with my friend Sandy a.k.a The Foodhoe. The weather was downright nasty this afternoon, but that didn’t stop the entire neighborhood from seeking comfort in carbohydrates. The place was completely packed.

Everything from the communal tables to the light fixtures and chairs were built by hand by Allison and company. The space was smartly designed and tinged with a bit of nostalgia. It felt warm, inviting, casual, and fun, just like homeroom.

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Restaurant Review

25 Feb 2011

Torihei – Los Angeles (Torrance)

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I should go ahead and declare February Japanese Food Appreciation month. From budget sushi to high-end fishes, not to mention spicy ramen and modern Japanese fare, it seems that the bulk of my meals these past 25 days have hailed from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Continuing on my streak of delicious Japanese cuisine, I traveled to Torrance for a feast of yakitori and oden at Torihei. I was joined by a band of merry eaters including The Astronomer, Remil, Danny, Amy, and Dennis (Amy’s fiance). Torihei is Danny’s favorite spot for skewered and grilled goodness in the South Bay.

Torihei is the collaborative effort of chefs Masataka Hirai and Masakazu Sasaki. Chef Hirai heads up the yakitori portion of the menu, while Chef Sasaki is an expert in Kyoto-style oden dishes. [To learn more about the histories of both chefs and their specialties, I recommend reading Exile Kiss’ thorough write up.]

Danny spearheaded the ordering effort, sticking mostly to the yakitori side of the menu. However, I heard from a trusty source that the oden dishes are equally superb.

Every table is outfitted with wooden boxes filled with shichimi togarashi (Japanese spice blend) and sansho (Sichuan pepper powder). Both are used as dipping condiments for the grilled items. The numbing sensation of the Sichuan pepper powder paired marvelously with the skewered odds and ends that graced our table this evening.

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