Chao
06 Aug 2007

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn

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Jet-lagged and thrilled, The Astronomer and I woke up at 4:45 in the morning on our first day in Saigon. Try as we might, we just couldn’t go back to sleep. Fortunately, our hotel began serving breakfast at 6:30, so we weren’t idle for too long. Our two choices for breakfast were chao trang (plain white porridge) or trung opla (eggs sunny side up). We both decided to have chao with orange juice.

The chao was served with dua muoi (salted daikon), salted peanuts, and salted hard-boiled eggs. I’ve eaten a lot of chao in my days, but never with these accouterments. In fact, The Astronomer and I had no clue the heaping pile of brown shredded stuff was daikon until we asked my aunts.

The mysterious daikon turned out to be the best accompaniment for the chao. The salted egg tasted too harsh, while the peanuts were unappealing. Not the tastiest breakfast I’ve ever had, but far from the worst. Properly fueled, The Astronomer set out to explore the streets of Saigon.

Airplane Food
06 Aug 2007

United Airlines

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Chicago, July 11, 2007 – Fine dining reaches new heights with the arrival of Chef Charlie Trotter’s appetizers and entrées for United First® and United Business® class customers. Beginning this week, customers can select from individual menu offerings created by one of the world’s most famous chefs and legendary Chicago restaurateur, Charlie Trotter.

Customers can enjoy appetizers such as Citrus-cured Smoked Salmon and Sweet Crab Salad on Fresh Bok Choy. Innovative entrées like Apricot Curry Braised Lamb Medallions, Morel Mushroom Risotto and Herb-rubbed Chicken Breast, and Orange and Ginger Cured Duck Confit can be paired with wines to create memorable in-flight meals.

Regrettably, this airplane food breakthrough did not affect our two international flights from San Francisco to Hong Kong or Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City, so The Astronomer and I suffered through ordinary airplane slop. Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to experience Chef Charlie Trotter’s gourmet mile-high cuisine if we fly United Airlines back to the States next year!

Our best onboard meal was served during the two-hour flight between Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. Simply called Chicken Noodle by our steward, the “pan-fried” treat was hearty and flavorful.

The narliest meal was interestingly also called Chicken Noodle. The chicken bordered on gray, while the thick rice noodles not only adhered to one another, but to the serving tray as well.

Three meals and one bowl of instant-noodles later, we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City. Thank, goodness.

Restaurant Review
04 Aug 2007

The Ramos House Café – San Juan Capistrano

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July 26, 2007
Cuisine: American (New), Southern

31752 Los Rios St
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Phone: 949-443-1342
Website: www.ramoshouse.com

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Cinnamon Apple Beignets ($6)

Mac n’ Cheese with Smoked Veggies and Lemon Gremolada ($16)

Southern Fried Chicken Salad with Corn Bread, Cranberries and Pumpkin Seed Buttermilk Dressing ($14)

Strawberry Basil Pain Perdu ($12)

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Not wanting to leave America without seeing one of my best friends, The Astronomer and I drove to San Jaun Capistrano to lunch with Esme on my final day in the states. She lives in Pasadena while I reside in San Diego, so we met exactly half way in the city of San Jaun Capistrano.

While researching restaurants midway between San Diego and Pasadena, I checked out eateries in Dana Point, Laguna Beach, and San Clemente, but they all seemed a bit too hoity-toity. Even though San Jaun Capistrano is technically located in the OC, it thankfully feels more rustic than silicone. The restaurant’s website provides further insight:

The Ramos House Café is situated in the heart of the Los Rios Historical District in San Juan Capistrano. It is the oldest remaining residential street in California, Los Rios dates back to 1794 when about 40 adobe structures were constructed to house soldiers and workers overseeing construction of the Mission.

The historical district was incredibly charming and a treat to walk up and down while waiting for Esme to arrive. When my friend finally came, we were seated promptly by the host. All dining at Ramos House is alfresco due to the abundance of sunshine year round.

Esme, me

The Astronomer insisted that we begin our meal with Cinnamon Apple Beignets because they are his weakness. The beignet batter contained tiny pieces of Granny Smith apples, which were deliciously tart and the cream fraiche and caramel sauces added another layer of sweetness. Perhaps a bit too decadent for a starter, but I’m not complaining.

For my entrée, I decided to have another dessert in disguise and ordered the Strawberry Basil Pain Perdu. An impressive mountain of freshly dipped and fried baguette rounds in a pool of strawberry puree topped with whipped cream appeared before me. It tasted as wonderful as it looked, but was much too big for one, so Esme and The Astronomer had to help me kill it. God, it was so good.

The Astronomer enjoyed the Ramos rendition of macaroni and cheese. The extra-large pasta and the roasted vegetables took this American classic to a delicious new level. His only complaint was the wimpy portion size. Esme really liked the cornbread in her salad, but found the chicken too spicy.

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