Category Archives: Foodie Friday

Lulu’s Lahaina Surf Club & Grill

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And we’re back to the Hawaii posts! :)

Fresh from the airport, boyfriend and I hopped into our rented Subaru Impreza and took off towards Kapalua.

Having been awake since 4am California time, by the time it was 11am Maui time, we were beyond starving. (Although I will say that Alaska Airlines had a very impressive breakfast scramble for purchase on the plane. No seriously, it smelled so good it woke us both up from our airplane slumber.)

We were passing through Lahaina and wanted to run into the CVS to stock up on sunscreen and aloe (we burn easily, but I’m happy to report that 4 bottles of sunscreen in 12 days and we were GOLDEN BROWN with not a hint of red in sight.) If you know us, you know this is a huge deal.

While stopping off for sunscreen, we decided we needed food.

Enter LuLu’s Lahaina Surf Club and Grill.

I’ve been to a LuLu’s in both Kihei (Maui – Wailea side) and Kona (Big Island) and had good bar food. We used to go on family vacations when we wanted a “local vibe” and to not pay resort prices for food.

This LuLu’s was gorgeous, huge, brand new, and upon telling the waitress that I had been before she was a little too quick to tell me “We’re franchised, totally different ownership and menus!”

Good start if you ask me.

We toasted our vacation with a Kona Longboard and a Maui Brewing Company Bikini Blonde Ale and dove right in.

Letting our ravenous stomachs decide for us, we started with the edamame – kim chee (spicy!) style.

Ridiculously spicy and ridiculously good. And this is coming from 3 bag/week edamame eaters!

Next up? Fresh shrimp with cajun seasoning!

Probably the messiest thing I’ve ever eaten but so, so, so tasty.

For my entrée (yes, we’re still going!), I went with the seared Ahi wrap. I don’t even like raw fish (unagi, california and dragon rolls excluded).

I also wasn’t aware that seared meant raw in the middle until boyfriend (with a huge smirk on his face) pointed out to me 1/2-way through that I was indeed eating raw fish.

I will say it was delicious, so fresh, and hit the spot. I refused to get any other than fresh fish while in Hawaii. I felt like I was cheating myself if I did.

Boyfriend on the other hand loooves raw fish, so he went with the seared Ahi burger.

Overall, we had a great meal at Lulu’s and it was very reasonably priced. We sat out on the patio, enjoyed some local, ice cold beers, and delicious fresh food. I would definitely go back and definitely recommend!

Bellies full we headed off to do some exploring before check-in at the hotel.

The coastline was stunning. I could stare at this all day long.

I want to go back.

Foodie Friday – Caffe Centro

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Hope your Friday went well!

Today for lunch I met up with boyfriend at an adorable little restaurant in the heart of SoMa – Caffe Centro.

Caffe Centro is “a bustling European cafe, in the heart of South Park in San Francisco.” I love it.

I’ve been a few times, but before today had only ordered one thing on the menu – the Cobb Salad (which is amazing).

Today however – I went for one of boyfriend’s recommendations – the Pasta Portofino Salad! He did the same, it’s that good.

 

 

 


Pasta Portofino Salad – bowtie pasta, pesto, pinenuts, grilled chicken on a bed of mixed greens.

OhMyWow.

I LOVE anything with pesto. Anything. This is probably one of the most delicious salads I’ve ever had.

There was just enough bowtie pasta layered on top of plenty of mixed greens. The pesto was fresh and perfectly basil and olive-oiley, the pinenuts gave it a delicious crunch, and you better believe we soaked up every last bit of it with the soft, delicious slices of bread.

Caffe Centro is located in South Park, not far from the Giants Stadium. You walk about half a block off the main street, and you’re in this adorable little “park” with dogs, little restaurants and businesses, lots of picnic tables… you feel like you’ve left SF completely.

 

 

It really looks like a place right out of Paris. The view isn’t so bad either. Talk about a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

Caffe Centro is tiny, and I’ve never been there when it hasn’t been packed – it’s delicious, the customer service is fantastic, the prices are extremely reasonable and everything is beyond fresh.

 

It was a great lunch, and as always, I was so bummed out when it was time to head back to the office. It’s so nice to escape every now and again and enjoy a delicious lunch outside with boyfriend… I love it!

 

Foodie Friday- Primo Patio Cafe

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Hope your Friday is going well!

For lunch, I met boyfriend and we ate outside by the water and relaxed… and it was beyond nice!

We went to Primo Patio Cafe to get our orders to go and I was beyond excited. Boyfriend had been talking this place up so I couldn’t wait to finally try it! The place was packed but we miraculously got our food extremely fast!

 

Don't let the exterior fool you, this place is fantastic

The "primo patio"

Our orders? Pita pockets stuffed with grilled lamb and veggies (mine were sans veggies, I have issues with cooking veggies which we’ll get into at a later date).  And seasoned fries of course!

As we all know I’m the no-condiment queen so I opted against the yogurt sauce served with the pitas, but boyfriend took full advantage and loved it!

The lamb pitas and fries were more than enough for me… and I even left a couple fries I was so full. This never happens - maybe once in a blue moon. About as often as when Gaga dresses like a “normal” human being.

We got our food to go and walked a few blocks down to the ballpark to eat by the water and bask in the sun.

 

It was SO nice, and quite honestly I didn’t want the lunch hour to end! I would definitely go back to Primo Patio Cafe… and hopefully soon!

Only a couple more hours until the weekend officially begins!

 

Foodie Friday – Power Source Cafe

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It’s become apparent to me that I live in a city with endless food options. I decided an easy to branch out was  to start a blog series – Foodie Friday!

Check back every Friday look for a review on a restaurant/cafe in SF :)

I’ve seriously been slacking on bringing my lunch this week, and today was no exception.

Rather than hit up Fuel Cafe for another of my most favorite wraps in the entire world, I went for something new.

My friend Carrie recommended Power Source Cafe and after a quick look at the menu online, I was sold!

For all you Kombucha lovers (not I!) it's on tap!

Even better? I could place my order online and then just take a short walk to pick it up!

A great idea when you arrive at the restaurant and the line looks like this:

Line out the door is usually a good sign!

I went with the Organic Apple Walnut Salad – which had organic crisp slices of apple w/ walnuts and feta cheese on a bed of spring mix w/ balsamic vinaigrette. For an extra boost of protein I added Wild Alaskan Hot Smoked Salmon.

I say Hot Smoked because until recently I thought I hated Smoked Salmon. Turns out, I just wasn’t a fan of Cold Smoked Salmon, or Lox.

When boyfriend and I were in the Midwest over the holidays last year his uncle hot smoked salmon using a variety of different wood chips and I became addicted.

The difference?

Cold Smoked is salmon which has been left raw and preferably cured for about 24 hours and smoked without heat, hence cold smoked. Hot Smoked salmon needs about 2 hours of cure and is cooked in the smoking process. This leads to marked differences in taste and texture.

Thank you Salmon Man :-)

This hot smoked salmon, was amazing.

I rounded out the salad with a bag of Sweet Potato Chips, which I devoured within 2.5 minutes of being back at my desk.

SO good. I’ve been starving today, so I dug right in!

Overall I really liked Power Source – the food was fresh, organic, filling, and the portions are HUGE! Had it not been for my ravenous appetite today, I could have easily saved 1/2 the salad for lunch tomorrow.

But when the stomach rumbles… I fill it!

The prices were reasonable for what the food was ($8.50 for the salad) and the fact that it was downtown SF and I would definitely go back – their smoothies and breakfasts look amazing, and I really liked that they used all organic ingredients.

Only a couple more hours until the weekend begins over here on the West Coast… can’t wait! :)

Stay tuned tonight for the first installment of “Friday Finds”!

Intrigued enough to check back?