http://virgoblue.wordpress.com My favorite places to eat, shop, and visit in the San Francisco Bay Area (and beyond). Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:17:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I was in Hong Kong just recently for a VERY quick four day trip. And though I spent most of my time there with family, I made sure to make a special trip to one of my favorite restaurants there. Ironically, it's not a Chinese joint either. Lo Chiu ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/07/13/a-quick-trip-to-hong-kong/ My friends know I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I've always had a sweet spot for cupcakes :).  There's something so happy and perfect about a little serving of cake and frosting.  A good cupcake is just a lovely thing. So I've been to a couple of cupcake ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/06/29/lovely-sugary-and-sweet/ A nice big bowl of Vietnamese rice noodle soup (pho) may seem like a simple thing, but there are so many elements to the broth that's much easier to find a "sub-par" bowl of pho than it is to find a really good one. So a good broth is simmered all day with beef bones and parts, and ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/06/22/pho-with-a-twist/ Courtesy of Laloo It's pretty common to know someone who is lactose intolerant. Unfortunately, my husband and I both fall into that bucket, though admittedly, he's better at avoiding cheese than I am. (I'm sorry but a life without cheese is just not worth living.) There are many digestive enzymes and pills ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/06/15/ice-cream-for-those-who-cant-have-it/ Photo courtesy of Stephen I. (Yelp) I used to work down the street from this place and I've never been. Shame on me, I know. Especially since I love myself a tasty falafel sandwich. It's even been featured on Food Network on more than one occasion. That's it. ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/06/08/falafeldrivein/ I can't believe I was actually considering canceling our reservation! I had booked it two months out so we'd have somewhere special yet unpretentious to go for our anniversary, but we were starting to talk ourselves out of driving up to Yountville for our meal. In the end, we peeled ourselves ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/06/01/just-like-heaven/ My pal Sab and I wanted to meet for dinner after work one night in downtown Mountain View, but we weren't exactly in the mood for anything Asian.  And if you're familiar with Castro Street in Mountain View, you know that leaves you with considerably less options. I'd passed by The ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/05/25/ahankeringforfish/ 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 ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/05/18/did-you-know-about-this-i-didnt-know-about-this/  Courtesy of www.famousdaves.com After my last quest to find decent Bay Area BBQ went awry, I was hesitant to try anymore for a while.  MSG-dry mouth is not a fun post dining experience. But my recently relocated friends from Texas tried the Famous Daves all the way in Gilroy recently and ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/finally-some-decent-bbq/  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 ... http://virgoblue.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/a-different-bookstore-experience/