Did you know about this? I didn’t know about this! Sunday, May 18, 2008

One of my favorite retail stores is Anthropologie.

Yes, their merchandise is WAY overpriced.

Yes, the quality of some of their flimsy clothes is questionable (especially given the prices). But who can resist those richly embellished tops, brightly colored jackets, or flowery summer skirts? And if you check out the sale rack in the back of every store, you may be able find a few dare-I-say “affordable” gems.

Anyways, I was surfing some blogs over the weekend and came across this wonderfully juicy tidbit of info for us bargain shopping chicks with champagne tastes (and less of the wallet to match).

Anthropologie notoriously never offers free shipping offers, coupon codes or promotions for shopping their website. But they now offer the “anthro card” for frequent shoppers. It’s a bit like a supermarket club card where they can track your shopping habits in their store for their marketing purposes (fortunately they DON’T sell your information to any third parties, so don’t worry). But for you the card holder, you get some nifty perks!

Once you sign up for one online or in-store, they’ll send you a card in the mail (eventually). Here’s what you get:

• Free shipping with all online orders (you have to link up your email to your card’s account online first)
• Receipt-free returns on all in-store purchase for the full purchase price
• First look at all of the newest merchandise so you can purchase it before it hits the stores or online.

I just received my card and it even came with a cute little drawstring bag.

My wallet is already cringing…

Anthropologie - Various locations nationwide

A Different Bookstore Experience Sunday, May 4, 2008

 Courtesy of www.bookbuyers.com

My hubby and I love to visit bookstores.  We can browse, read, and wander for hours.  If you’re on the Peninsula, your options are mostly limited to either Barnes & Noble, Borders or the occasional Books Inc.  But when we’re in the mood to drive just a little further south, we go to my favorite bookstore, BookBuyers on Castro St. in Mountain View.

It’s a great street to get a good meal (there are so many great Asian restaurants up and down Castro).  And after your meal, you can walk right on over to BookBuyers.

There are lots of reasons to love this place.  First, there’s no better place to buy a calendar anytime of year.  The calendars are ALWAYS 50% off the retail price and you won’t find a bigger selection anywhere.  They’ve got calendars of every kind, size, theme and design you could ever want or think of.

Second, it’s a great spot to sell your used software, books, CDs, magazines, and movies.  They’ll buy them from you, which explains their great selection of merchandise…

And that’s my favorite thing about this place.  There are aisles and aisles and aisles of all kinds of books that are much less than at a regular bookstore because most are used.  There are books, magazines, and CDs that are out of print and you can find a lot of great literary treasures.  I love to shop for travel books and cookbooks here because many are barely used and in great condition.  The selection is remarkable and so are the prices.

I tend to spend more time here than at a conventional bookstore.  It’s like a vast well organized treasure hunt, and you’re bound to find more than a few gems. 

BookBuyers - 317 Castro Street, Mountain View - 650.968.7323

Crate & Barrel CAN Be Affordable! Sunday, April 27, 2008

Have I really never written about this place?

I guess I’ve kept this place on my regular repatoire of favorite bargain spots for so long that I forgot to mention it. But it’s REALLY worth visiting.

We’re lucky enough in the Bay Area to have one of the few Crate and Barrel Outlet stores in the country. It’s located on the quaint shopping area of Fourth Street in Berkeley, which means parking can be a challenge on the weekends. But you could easily spend an afternoon in the neighborhood. But I digress…

The Crate and Barrel Outlet takes discontinued, seasonal, and sample merchandise and sells it at up to 85% off their original prices. I just got four picture frames, a wine decanter and four matching wine glasses, a large glass centerpiece bowl, and two juice glasses on one visit and spent only 80 bucks. How’s that for a deal on Crate and Barrel merchandise?

They also have a huge selection of furniture, bedding, dishes, table linens, home decor and accessories, kitchenware, glasses, gifts, basically anything you can think of at a regular Crate and Barrel. Each time you go the merchandise will be different so if you see something, you should grab it. And you don’t need a sale since everything’s already marked down so much (some more than others, of course).

There are no drawbacks to paying this place a visit every once in a while. Some times will be better than others, but it’ll always be worth a visit, if only to gawk at the prices.

Crate and Barrel Outlet - 1785 Fourth Street, Berkeley - 510.528.5500

So we were in the market for a sofa… Sunday, April 13, 2008

The West Point sofa from the Kathy Ireland for Omni Furniture collection (We didn’t order white, of course…)

My husband and I just bought a lovely dark brown leather couch after having my horrible Jennifer Convertables sofa for 10 years.  10 years!  Way too long.  And it was never comfortable.  So we decided to make our first major grown up furniture purchase and pay some good money for a long-term, quality leather couch. 

After visiting every furniture chain and local store we could think of, my husband recommended a random store called the Sofa Outlet along El Camino in San Mateo.  He saw it on the way to a Thai restaurant we were headed to.  As usual, I didn’t take him seriously.

It wasn’t until some local show on TV mentioned it as a good place to shop for almost any style couch you can think of, at 20-30% off retail.  I was so there!  (Sorry, Honey.)

After multiple visits leafing through the tons and tons of catalogs, and then realizing the style we liked most wouldn’t fit through the narrow hallway of our home (we wanted the Pottery Barn “Manhattan” look-alike couch), we decided on an expresso brown couch from Omnia Furniture.  We could totally choose the color and grade of leathers since it would be custom made!

We ordered a standard three seater sofa, two large oversized chairs (like the ones the comfy ones they have in major bookstores for reading) and a large ottoman.  It was all high grade, pre-treated leather, and the tab including tax and a minimal delivery charge only because they had to go up to the second floor of our home (usually it’s free!), and it was $6000.  That may sound like a lot, but they’re investment pieces, and good leather sofa sets can cost WAY more than that.  We easily saw some that were in the five figures!

So we finally got them this week, and I can’t tell you how happy we are.  They are so comfy, great quality, and best of all the staff at the store AND the delivery staff were friendly, careful, and accomodating.  Great service, great price, great quality…a win-win for sure.

Sofa Outlet - El Camino Real, San Mateo

No Ordinary Food Court Saturday, April 5, 2008

Courtesy of www.wichcraftnyc.com

You’re probably wondering why on earth I would write about a food court, but the term “food court” really doesn’t do this place justice. It’s not like any other stereotypical one you’ve seen in the standard American mall. Thankfully, there’s no Sbarro, Panda Express, or Hot Dog on a Stick anywhere in sight.

A couple of weeks ago I stayed at the Hotel Palomar in San Francisco for a few days (great boutique hotel with exceptional service, btw). That meant being right next door to the San Francisco Shopping Centre (!) and an endless source of meal options in their famous food court and supermarket, Whole Foods knockoff, Bristol Farms.

I’ll list out only the places I tried.

WICHCRAFT - Fans of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” are familiar with this restaurant chain’s owner, Tom Coliccio. Unfortunately, this place falls into the typical celebrity chef trap: all style, no substance and overpriced. It bugs the crap outta me that the food here was fresh, conceptually inventive, the elements were individually good, but the result was less than memorable. Head to this next joint for a better soup and sandwich…

SAN FRANCISCO SOUP COMPANY - This chain makes delicious homemade soups that are consistantly good and made with top notch ingredients. It’s the best soup you’ll have, and I’ve been to four of their locations in the Bay Area. The Tomato Bisque, Turkey Chili, Tortilla Soup, and New England Clam Chowder are all exceptionally good, along with their Spinach Salad. They have about five regular soups, but also have quite a good selection of specials that change daily.

CATCH ISLE - I loved my first dish here so much that I went for a return visit. I tried the Linguini and Clams (I know, at a food court!) and was wonderfully surprised. It was comperable to a higher end joint and I’d definitely have it again. The flavors were clean, fresh, and came together nicely. Service was consistantly nice too, which helps. I had the Fish and Chips on another visit and a mixed green salad. It was good, but not great. My search for decent fish and chips in the Bay Area continues…

BUCKHORN GRILL - I love this place because they know how to treat a good piece of angus beef! It’s always cooked perfectly, marinated and flavored well, and surprisingly juicy. Order anything with the tri tip beef and you’ll be good to go.

PASTA MOTO - They had a real pizza oven and some tasty roasted veggies. And the Margherita Pizza was pretty tasty for a food court (but it’s no Pizzeria Delfina, of course). But on average…it was average. The weakest meal next to Wichcraft I had here.

ANDALE - There are various locations of this small Mexican chain in the Bay Area. They do a cross between Mexican street food items with a more Californian spin on preparation. I love the Shrimp Fajitas.

BEARD PAPA - You know how I feel about this place… Go!

There are many other restaurants here, including “Out the Door,” by the owner of “Slanted Door” (again, overpriced and overhyped), and some other more standard choices. But all in all, this food court has better options than some higher end restaurants I can think of. All this variety, affordability, and you get some good food to boot.

The Food Court @ The Westfield San Francisco Shopping Centre - 805 Market Street, S.F. - 415.512.6776

I Heart Paris: Fave Districts & Shopping Sunday, March 9, 2008

There’s almost no other city in the world that is spoken about with as much love as Paris. And after experiencing it for myself for a week, I finally understand why.

There is a certain charm, sophistication and class that can’t be replicated anywhere else. Add to that their fabulous food, fashion, art and history, and you’ve got an unbeatable combination!

There are so many different sights to see and places to go in Paris. The city’s many different districts all offer a different vibe, which is remarkable in itself. Here’s a list of four that J.Low and I enjoyed most and would recommend for shopping and just getting lost in.

MARAIS

There’s a wealth of fabulous boutiques here on Rue des Francs Bourgeois (between Rue Payenne and Rue Vielle du Temple), like Mellow Yellow for the cutest shoes without totally breaking the bank. They’ve got beautiful patent leather flats in adorable shapes and funky bright colors. Then on the same street, head to La Chaise Lounge for the most fun gifts you’ll find (I got a pair of movable robot cufflinks for my husband there), Les Petits for the most stylish in wearable current fashion, and nearby Muji for sleek Japanese housewares.

Nearby on Clos des Blancs-Manteaux there’s also Les Touristes for drapes, table runners, and cosmetic bags (J. found a large cosmetic bag for only 8 euros in an adorable French provencal fabric), as well as Romane, a boutique that carries chic sophisticated women’s fashions. This was my favorite district in Paris. Great food, shopping and interesting people.

SAINT GERMAIN

Besides Le Bon Marche (the department store real Parisians shop at) and its Le Grande Epicerie (the king of all gourmet food stores), there’s one street for bargain hunters that can’t be missed: Rue Sainte-Placide.

J had a great time finding a pair of ballet flats for 29 euros, boots for 75 euros, and a lined trench coat for 20 euros. Great prices, especially for this part of the world. Stores like Rudy’s and Mode offer good deals on cool shoes, both designer and not. And Le Generale Pharmacie sells European skin and haircare brands like Phyto, La Roche Posay, Roger & Gallet, Klorane, Weleda, Biotherm and Rene Furterer for as much as half off U.S. prices, and slightly less than other Parisian pharmacies, which made me happy.

Rue Sainte-Placide is not a long street so browse around and you’ll find some bargains.

LATIN QUARTER

Alleyways to get lost in, pubs to chat in, and bistros to linger in. Plus, a great array of little boutiques in those alleyways and larger chain stores near the main roads like Promod (similar to H&M) and Minelli for shoes and handbags (where I got a lovely “leather-esque” metallic silver handbag for 49 euros).

RUE de FAUBOURG SAINT HONORE

If you’ve got the cash, you can plunk it down here. This famous street right behind the Louvre has a storefront for every name brand European designer you can think of. A little rich for my blood, but if you’re into window shopping, it’s worth the trip.

As for the usual department store suspects like Galleries Lafayette and Printemps, I wouldn’t suggest it for most shoppers. It is such a madhouse in there that it’s enough to make you run for the hills. I’m an expert shopper and it made me run for cover. And there are much more interesting items to be found in the boutiques around town anyway.

It’s easy to love Paris. But by the time I left, I felt like it could love me back. And that was the best part.

Shanghai: Part Two Monday, January 21, 2008

So again, MSG is in everything here. You’ve been warned.

That said, the food in Shanghai is distinctive, flavorful, and very rich.

Because China is so big, different regions have very distinctive food styles. In the south (Canton, Hong Kong, Guangzhao, Shenzhen, etc.) rice is served all the time and dishes are stirfried. In the north (Shanghai, Ningbao, and the like), meats are commonly braised in rich sauces and their main staples are noodles and dumplings; foods that are heavier, heartier, and made with flour because of the colder climate. In Beijing, there’s lots of hotpot, goat, and lamb. Hunan food is infamously spicy.

So here are three highlights from our trip to Shanghai:

JADE GARDEN - Classic Shanghainese food in a colonial French setting. The place is eternally packed, so make sure you call for reservations no less than a week in advance. We enjoyed the Braised Pork (pictured below) and the Crystal Shrimp served with dark vinegar.

XIAO LONG BAO - This isn’t a restaurant but arguably the signature dish of Shanghai (pictured below). It is steamed dumplings filled with pork and sometime some seafood like shrimp or crab. It is so damn flavorful and there’s a special way to eat them so you don’t waste the “tong” or soupy oil that’s sitting inside the dumpling. You can get them at any Shanghainese restaurant but the best have both a flavorful tong/soup and meat filling inside AND a super thin delicate dough. If there’s one thing you HAVE to order while in Shanghai, it’s a steamer full of these puppies.

YU YUAN GARDENS VARIOUS FOODSTANDS - This is a good place to experience “street food” without questioning how unsafe they are. Because these foodstands are within the Yu Yuan Gardens Bazaar, they’re cleaner and a bit safer. And the food is very tasty. You can try classics like soy sauce tea eggs, fishballs, tripe, egg rolls, and my favorite, fried stinky tofu with chili sauce. It’s like cheese for the Chinese because they ferment the tofu much like cheese. Hence the stinkiness. If you are an adventurous eater, it’s not to be missed.

Much of the food we had during our trip was sublime. But I have to admit, my husband and I are COMPLETELY burnt out on Chinese food for quite a while!

Shanghai: Part One Monday, January 14, 2008

So let me preface my description of Shanghai with this… Everything you eat will have MSG in it. They don’t use it in “pinches,” they use it by the teaspoon and tablespoon in each and every dish. It’s as normal to them as soy sauce, or salt to us. It’s just the way they live. So eat with caution and drink a lot of water if you travel there.

Now, with that said, my husband and I had a dandy old time in Shanghai. The area is so developed, so metropolitan, it’s scary. I was there just 12 years ago, and its now infamous skyline didn’t exist back then. Yes, that famous skyline has come to fruition in the span of only 10+ years. Amazing and frightening at the same time.

There is a lot of rich cultural history in Shanghai. Hong Kong is much like New York in that it’s so bustling, crowded, and metropolitan. But Shanghai at times can be like New York on steroids. You can’t get into the hottest (and truly tasty) restaurants without a reservation at least two weeks in advance. And unlike Hong Kong, this town has an artistic side. Hong Kong can be a bit too trendy and vapid.

There was a lot of French colonial influence in Shanghai during the 1920’s and 30’s. The classic dresses that women wore called qipao or cheongsam were standard fare during this time. And that French influence was the reason for the riverside area called “The Bund.” All it’s buildings are very European and old (and now houses a bunch of high end bars, clubs, hotels and restaurants).

And because of the French influence during that time, Shanghai has a strong sense of European art and culture. It’s the reason why I love the city. A combination of dirty old China (still very rough around the edges) and European sophistication.

Besides The Bund, here are some districts to visit:

TAI KANG LU -

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was in a little neighborhood somewhere in Paris. It’s a maze of narrow alleyways and a bit hard to get to. But it’s totally worth it. Great spot to enjoy yourself at a cafe and shop for art, teas, jewelry, housewares, and magnificent photography. We loved this area immensely. It’s so charming.

XING TI DI -

This is the hot spot for the young and trendy. If Paris Hilton were to visit Shanghai, she’d come here. There are some cute little boutiques, but it’s the place to be for coffee, a drink at the hottest bar or club, or dinner at some of the trendiest restaurants in town. It’s worth a visit, but if you enjoy going to bed before midnight, no need to spend too much time here.

YU YUAN GARDENS -

This place is a dizzying maze of little Chinese shops and food galore. It’s a little like an organized flea market, but more like a crowded bazaar. There’s also some classic Chinese buildings (with their distinctive curved and pointed roofs), gardens and ponds. If you want gifts for the folks back home (pearls, other jewelry, accessories, and knick knacks), this is the place to get them. And stop by the many food stands that serve stinky fried tofu, xiao long bao, and other classic food-stand delicacies. Yum!

Nice segway into the food discussion… But that’ll have to wait until next week.

Welcome 2008! Saturday, January 5, 2008

Happy New Year!

Sorry for the long absence VB readers.  I’ve just returned from a trip to Shanghai and will write an entry or two in the next few weeks about a couple of my food experiences during my time there.  I’m still trying to get over the jetlag.

In the meantime, you shopping fanatics know this is arguably the best time of year to score bargains.  I’ve just updated the Sales and Coupons page, but here are some of the best sales out there:

Neiman Marcus - Online After Christmas Sale.  Additional 25% off already sale merchandise.

J.Crew - Final Sale of up to 80% off.

Banana Republic - More than 50% off winter merchandise and new markdowns were just taken.

L’Occitane - Up to 50% off select merchandise for a limited time.

Ikea - Winter Sale with up to 60% off select merchandise.

Jeremy’s - Additional 60% off already sale merchandise.  Weekends throughout the month of January should have some good sales in general.

Elephant Pharmacy - Up to 75% off a wide array of seasonal and discontinued merchandise, as well as 25% off all body care and cosmetics!

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend is traditionally the last big push that retailers will make to get rid of their winter merchandise.  Therefore, that will be your last weekend to score great bargains.  I know this may sound crazy to many of you, but it’s also the perfect time to do some X’mas and gift shopping.  It’ll set you up for the rest of the year. 

After that, the bargains will be few and far between.

The Bay Area’s most overrated spots Tuesday, December 18, 2007

A new year is almost upon us, so let’s talk about some of the most overhyped and over-recommended places that have disappointed me in the last year.  And to start the new year off right, I’ll recommend some places you should visit instead, right alongside them. 

First, some restaurants…

OVERRATED: Slanted Door (S.F.)  / INSTEAD: Bong Su (S.F.) or Tamarine (Palo Alto)

I enjoy Vietnamese food so much, but I just can’t justify a one month wait for a reservation to a place that is all style over substance.  You pay for the view and the rising chef that’s making the food.  It’s tasty, but you can get the same or similar dishes at a hole in the wall down the street for a quarter of the price.  Bong Su, or its sister restaurant Tamarine, are so much more innovative in their ingredients, preparation, and flavors.

OVERRATED: Limon (S.F.) / INSTEAD: Scott Howard (S.F.)

I know, Limon serves Latin cuisine and Scott Howard contemporary American.  Totally different foods.  But Scott Howard is the best restaurant in San Francisco that not enough people are eating at.  And Limon is definitely one of the most overhyped (right behind Slanted Door).

OVERRATED: Salt House (S.F.) / INSTEAD: Town Hall (S.F.)

Salt House does have a great vibe and fabulous atmosphere.  But the food is not up to snuff, plain and simple.  Ironically, its sister restaurant, Town Hall, has fabulous food and also a happening scene.  Go there instead.

OVERRATED: The Counter (Palo Alto) / INSTEAD: Jeffrey’s Hamburgers (San Mateo), Taylors Refresher (S.F. and St. Helena), In-n-Out Burger

Why on earth would I return to a restaurant that has some of the worst service I’ve ever experienced in my life?  Easy, I don’t.  The mediocre food could never possibly warrant such poor service from the waitstaff, and the management obviously doesn’t care.  And worst of all, the food isn’t very good!  If you’re in the area and are jonesing for a burger, go to Jeffrey’s instead.  They’re friendly, clean, and no frills.  Oh yeah, and the burger is pretty damn tasty.  And if you’re further north, both Taylor’s Referesher outposts are good, too.  Hell, In-n-Out has a better burger and service than The Counter ever will.

And now, some shopping…

OVERRATED: Daiso (Daly City) / INSTEAD: Ichiban Kan (S.F. and San Mateo)

Daiso is Japan’s largest discount retailer.  Ichiban is a chain of two Japanese “dollar stores” in the Bay Area.  How do they compare?  In the words of my husband, Ichiban may be smaller, but their merchandise is much better.  You get Japanese name brands that you can trust in food and healthcare products, like Kanebo, Calbee, Meiji, and others.  Daiso may be as big as a Target store, but it’s void of anything worth buying.  It’s a huge waste of time.

OVERRATED: Gilroy Premium Outlets / INSTEAD: Great Mall (Milpitas) 

This one used to be the other way around.  But with the addition of Neiman Marcus Last Call and its competitor, Off 5th, Great Mall now wins this challenge.  Now all they need is a Barneys New York outlet and it’ll be perfect.

If you have any thoughts on what’s overrated in the Bay Area, let me know.  Until then, Happy New Year!