Brown Sugar Kitchen

***** Brown Sugar Kitchen is exactly what it sounds like it is: sweet, home-cooking in its most heavenly form. Waffles and pancakes are pretty standard fare for a breakfast, but I promise, once you have had one from this place, your ideas of melting perfection are changed forever. These waffles are ever-so-slightly crispy on the outside for shape, form, and texture, and they melt in your mouth as gently as the apple spiced maple syrup drizzled upon them. If you are more of a corned beef hash sort, you won't be disappointed. The meats are seasoned like no other you have ever tasted in the most inexplicably delicious assortments, you keep wondering what you are missing when you are there! One word of caution: there is ALWAYS a wait on the weekend. Don't even pretend like you might be able to squeeze in a visit before your activities. This is an activity and experience in itself that deserves the time it takes to get a table. Another: it is sneaky and so blatantly in the middle of nothing else, you might not notice it... truth. That is why I used a picture of their store instead of their food for this post!

Greens

*****People everywhere will tell you that Greens is the best vegetarian cuisine in the San Francisco Bay Area. They somehow manage to make you forget that what you are eating doesn't contain meat and never wanted to.... Many vegetarian restaurants in the area use processed soy products that are about as meat-like as shoe inserts. Greens sticks with what it knows: vegetables- and boy does it know them! Case in Point: I brought six teenage boys on a Saturday night before going to my favorite Improv show at BATS, and they all RAVED about it- even shared the name of it with their friends when they went back to school! Teenage boys... Vegetarian recommendations... If I didn't know what they were talking about, I would have started walking the streets with Zombie Apocalypse signs! Word of Caution: it is a bit pricey.

Spice I Am!

****There is a new Thai Place on Park Street in Alameda. Word of Warning: I have eaten here at least five times, and every single time I walk past it the first round because it always looks closed. It isn't - they are working on the lighting to convey that... Check the door! It is well worth it! The owners are brother and sister, and they know their Thai better than any other in the East Bay. My son will rave about the Mii Krob... I am fond of too many dishes to outline one here.... It is hip, romantic, family friendly, and tasty! You and your family will love it!