First Day in Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon

Sorry no pictures, or even any links yet. But here are some first impressions:

Arriving at night the city is balmy and buzzing with motorcycles, scooters and people everywhere. But there is a calm purposefulness about it all. Everyone we meet is polite and soft-spoken.

First day after a breakfast of pho with a view overlooking the Saigon river, we walk from the Hotel Majestic to the Ben Thanh market. Crossing the street to enter is a harrowing experience! You can't wait for traffic to die down because it never does. You just have to plow ahead in an act of utter faith or stupidity.

The market is crammed with stalls and vendors selling everything from clothes and shoes,"madam, madam, I have your size!" to bars with just one specialty--bun noodles or banh mi or something else. Glasses of exotic looking colored drinks have noodles and polka dots and who-knows-what floating or sinking in them, all day glow colors. Tons of beautiful fresh fish and enormous prawns and lobsters, mostly live and thrashing about, I actually saw what looked like a catfish getting away (!) I've taken tons of pictures and hope to get them up soon, I'm sure the folks there thought I was crazy for taking pictures of bowls of rice but there they were like bulk bins at a supermarket but all rice, maybe 15 different kinds of white rice. It is truly a different and fascinating world.

Happy New Year from Saigon!

FOOD

Off to Southeast Asia!

I'm going to Vietnam with a side trip to Cambodia. I will be gone for an entire month. I know there will be lots to write about and assuming all goes well I plan to share the details of my trip from the road, so stay tuned.

It may take me a few days to get situated so in the meantime please feel free to peruse the archives, you never know what you'll find, or try a recipe in the Get Cooking! section. Every Wednesday you'll find a new post from me over at Bay Area Bites. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

FOOD

Best Breakfasts

Why do we love going out for breakfast? I mean, logically we should prefer to laze around in pajamas and read the paper. But somehow the lure of better-than-homemade pancakes, eggs benedict, corned beef hash and the like pulls us out of the comfort of our homes in search of the first meal of the day.

Everyone has their favorite breakfast places. For some, it may be proximity or hospitality that makes a place worth standing in line for. But for me, it's really all about the food. And I'm willing to head halfway across town for a breakfast that satisfies.

Typically I don't review a place just on the basis of breakfast, but as a result some of my favorite places get overlooked. So here without further ado, in no particular order, are my picks for best breakfast.

1. Kate's Kitchen
I've tried their lunch specialties but nothing compares to their massive pumpkin pancakes with just a touch of cornmeal. Just be sure to order a short stack I've yet to be able to finish two plate-sized pancakes. The other must-order here is the New England Flannel Hash. Huge chunks of corned beef are cooked up with onions, potatoes, carrots and sometimes other root veggies making a dish that resembles a chunky stir fry.

2. Home Plate
Breakfasts here come with lots of extras. Practically anything you order comes with sweet rolls, potato pancakes and a fresh hot scone, all homemade. What to order? I'd go with the unique turkey hash, with cashews and a horseradish sauce. The huevos rancheros are also terrific as are any of the scrambles or omelets.

3. Mama's on Washington Square
This is a place where it's hard to decide what to order because everything is so good. The french toast comes slathered with fresh berries and is made with a decadent coffee cake or baguette. The eggs benedict is one of the best in town and keep your eyes open for special versions that come with Bay shrimp or crab. All the special omelets are a treat.

4. Sears Fine Foods
This old standard got a complete makeover and it's now a homey showcase of Americana. But when it comes to breakfast, stick with the Swedish pancakes. Sears is one of the only places that makes them anymore and don't miss out on the ligonberry sauce, one order of the sauce is easily enough for two orders of these silver dollar almost crepe style pancakes.

5. Pastores
I know it's way out in Bernal Heights but it's worth the trek. The chilaquiles and huevos rancheros here are divine. So is the friendly greeting you get when you come in. While breakfast is served all day here, if you are more in the mood for lunch go ahead and try the enchiladas with mole sauce. You'll be glad you did.

6. Foreign Cinema
Ok this is more of a brunch place than a breakfast place but I can't but include it. But everyone will find something they like here from kids to hipsters to grandma and grandpa. Service is friendly and the delicate scrambled eggs are scrumptious! But there are also salads and egg dishes that are strictly out of the ordinary. How about poached eggs with duck breast, salad and croutons? Or eggs deglazed with balsamic vinegar and a potato garlic hash? Brunch is only available on the weekends, until 3:30 p.m.

READ MORE Over at Bay Area Bites is my take on Bay Area Cookbooks of 2006

FOOD

Raisin Bran Muffins: Recipe

Bad news. I have a hard time working my way through a box of raisin bran. I'm not really all that fond of cold cereal in the first place and as a result I often end up with stale cereal. The good news? Raisin bran makes great muffins.

I find most conventional muffins are really more like cake, too light a crumb and too greasy. Otherwise muffins are a great fast food. They can also be good for you if you control the ingredients, adding fresh fruit and nuts and limiting the fat and sugar.

Another good thing about this recipe is that you probably have all the ingredients on hand. As you may have noticed from other recipes on my site, this makes a small batch. I prefer small batches when it comes to baked goods. If you make a fewer muffins, you're more likely to eat them when they are still fresh. This recipe is very closely based on one I found on the Kraft foods site, but with a few twists.

Raisin Bran Muffins
makes 7 large muffins

3/4 Cup flour
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
1 egg
1/2 Cup milk (I use 1%)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (I use rice bran oil)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 Cup raisin bran
1 apple, peeled and diced (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Beat eggs, milk, oil and vanilla in small bowl until just blended. Add to flour mixture; stir just until barely smooth. Stir in the raisin bran, chopped apples and walnuts.

Use an ice cream scoop to fill paper-lined muffin pan cups 3/4 of the way full, should make 7 muffins.

Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Let cool 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

FOOD

Sometimes reading a blog is like making a friend. You get to know them better every time you hang out together. And so it is with This Little Piglet. From reading Lia's blog I know she works for the Food Network and that she's eaten at some of my favorite places in Seattle and at places I'm dying to try in New York. Though she hasn't been blogging long, her recipe index reads like my to do list. There isn't one dish on it that doesn't appeal to me.

I eat soup all year long, but I've got to admit it's especially appealing in Winter. So for those of you in a soup mood, check out The Gracious Bowl, a blog all about soup. Did I mention this blog features a recipe for prosciuttons? Check it out!

Cooking Gadgets. Oh my, why did it take me so long to discover this guilty pleasure of a site? Cooking gadgets is filled with equal parts stuff you long for and stuff you can't help but laugh at...

FOOD