Ginormous Pastrami Sandwiches at Miller's East Coast Deli

It's that time of the week when the food blog gets updated...and just looking at these sandwiches has my inner carnivore raging at me to make a trip to SF!  I don't imagine you can find these gigantic sandwiches with probably at least 3 inches of meat stacked in between anywhere else but the US.  Ah the perks of living here...everything is bigger.

I'm not a usual big fan of sandwiches for lunch or dinner because I've been trained to learn that if I don't have rice or noodles, it's not a filling meal.  Yup, I'm a big eater...so if I had these, I would probably still go out for a large bowl of rice afterwards.  This NY style deli is located in SF, and from what I gather, all their sandwiches are really popular, and don't skimp on the meat and other ingredients.  So if you're missing that taste of the east coast, I encourage you to visit!

If you're interested in the review, you can click here to learn more about it!

And as always, thanks to all my readers for your continual support and patience.  By the way, did you know that the first volume of Dear Brother is now out for sale?

 

It's on sale at my local bookstore, Kinokuniya, for only $6.25, and now that the yen's ridiculously low, it makes purchasing just so much easier.  But I think I'll still hold off on it until the story starts to come together to see whether it's worth buying.  On the other hand....what a suggestive cover!  For siblings, that is................

Dear Brother Chapter 6 Summary

We're taking baby steps in terms of plot advancement, but perhaps a big step in Momo's psychological world when she realizes that her attachment to Sougo goes beyond familial ties.  Again, there's the cliche accidents (why does someone always have to be nearly run over by a car?  Or in this case motorcycle)...which I honestly think can be done without.  It serves as a trigger for Momo's realization, but it's just not novel.  Anyways, on with the summary!   Notes: Italics near the end are Momo's inner thoughts.  If you want to follow the chapter, click here for the scans.

The chapter opens with Gin and Aoba crying out to their mom's altar, filing complaints about Momo.  While they argue, Momo suddenly realizes that it's their mom's death anniversary in just a few days.  Gin suggests that they all take a day off to go visit the grave together, which everyone but Sougo gets excited for.  Sougo says he's busy and that he'll visit on his own at another time.  When Aoba asks if he could do something about work, Sougo says that they'll understand later and goes off to bed.

If happiness could be found in a pastry...

The kouign amann pictured above is it.  Kouign Amann is similar to a croissant, but far richer and more buttery.  It's caramelized on the outside, but the overall pastry isn't too sweet, so it can leave you the urge to grab one after another when you finally polish it.  I went to this new pastry shop in SF called b patisserie after stumbling on a pretty picture of her layered cakes.  So of course I went and ordered the prettiest ones.

Chocolate Vanilla Choux

Vanilla Cake

Grande Macaron

They're pretty, aren't they?  But it was pretty average.  The rose mousse inside the macaron was really yummy and light though.  Its texture reminded me of chocolate pudding from JELL-O, the ones you get in a plastic cup and it's sold in a pack of six.  I have a feeling all the breakfast pastries (viennoiserie) are way more amazing in taste than the pretty desserts.  Can't wait to go back to try items like sugar brioche tart, passionfruit bostock, and apple brown butter coffeecake!

If you're interested in reading about the shop, click here!

When you feel like splurging on a fancy dinner...

Badass Sidecar Cocktail with Hennessy VSOP

 Roasted Beef Bone Marrow in Porcini Mushroom Madeira Sauce

Triple Chocolate Mousse with Earl Grey Ice Cream, Orange Ganache, Chocolate Almond Meal Cake

Hungry yet?  The rest of the menu actually contained Whiskey Laced Chicken Liver Pate (with date jam and warm toast), Seared Maple Leaf Duck Breast (with parmesan polenta, roasted baby root vegetables, spicy sauce), and Pan Roasted Chicken (with grilled fingerling potatoes, radicchio, spinach, garlic confit).

While I was editing this food blog post for my friend, I was so jealous...and hungry.  I'm usually not a fan of American food, which is why I've always just let it pass by while I walk from campus to the Bart station during my college years.  But now that I know their menu (which changes daily by the way), I think I want to go.  I don't have anyone special (as in of the opposite sex) to go with, but I think it'll be a nice spot to dine with my family.  So I've marked Wood Tavern down already!  It's in a super nice part of the city despite the address saying it's in Oakland.  I've always just assumed it was in Berkeley since it was on College Avenue and so close to campus.  Totally recommend it for that special date though~

If you're curious about the restaurant, click here to read the review!

I'll let you know my thoughts on it as well after I go try it, hehe.  Dear Brother still hasn't come out yet...how I wish the Chinese groups will translate faster!  I'm all anxious about the relationship between the two...and without anything interesting to read, I've went back to re-read Yoru Cafe, another one of Enjouji Maki sensei's works.  It's quite interesting, and since it's so short, faster paced.

Hapi Mari Novel: Update 9

Usually I would prefer not to post something so little...but I understand that you guys have been asking for it quite often.  I'm still waiting for people to volunteer to help out since I won't be able to make timely updates, so I hope this post won't be construed as a promise for more and soon.  

He narrows his gaze.  I wonder if it’s because the necklace doesn’t suit me?  Inside I do think that a two carat diamond is way beyond my means.

“The clothes do make the man.”

“Eh?  What do you mean?”

Is he angry?  Or is he just finding a roundabout way to diss me?

“I’m praising you so be honest and don’t hide your happiness.”

“Then praise me more honestly.”

I am…really happy even with such a twisted way of praising me…

“I won’t show my fishing harvests (chouka) to those who aren’t honest.”

“Choukaa?”

Best Pizza in Berkeley!

I'm not one to rave about pizza, since I can usually go with or without.  I remember having exceptional deep dish in Chicago once as a child, but that was a long time ago and it was associated with a family trip, so naturally I would have good memories about it.

However......I went to the new pizza place darling among my friends and Berkeley's students recently...and it was just blemmin' fantastic!  I shared the half pie with a friend, but had I not, I'm pretty sure I would have finished all of it by myself anyways.  It's called Sliver, and they serve only one type of pizza per day.  I checked out their website later, and found that all their choices don't contain any meat...but don't let that deter you!  It wasn't just good as in "It's good for vegetarian", but "It's damn good, period."

If you ever drop by Berkeley, you MUST go to try out Sliver.  It's really convenient to get there, just a street away from the Downtown Berkeley Bart station.  I've never pushed so hard for a pizza place since I like Asian food more...but you won't regret it.  They also have a happy hour special where you get free slivers (of pizza) with a drink, and they have a good mission behind the restaurant, donating and supporting organizations against human trafficking, so it makes you feel good eating there.

Their prices are alright, but since you get two extra slices if you order the "half" size, it's a pretty good deal.  It's $2.75 for just one slice, but $10.90 for "half" so definitely get the half!  Or whole if you're with friends.

If you would like to read about it, click here!

About Hapi Mari novel...I really wish I had the time to update, but I now have two internships to balance and am thinking about taking an extra job that'll pay for commute and stuff...so I'm still waiting for someone to volunteer.  I'll still be doing detailed Dear Brother summaries though, so no worries about that.  Also, thank you to my readers who notify me when new chapters come out, because although I check pretty often, most of the time you're the first to inform and remind me.