M Magazine 2023 April Almaden

I TOKYO

By CINDY CRUZ

iwas recently presented with an opportunity to travel to Japan and I balked at the opportunity for a number of reasons. For one, a non-stop flight is approximately 16 hours – more if there are any layovers. And as it panned out, we had to add an extra hour and one night at a hotel to fly out of Los Angeles, both coming and going, so we could save almost $2,000 instead of flying out of any Bay Area airport. We were trying to take advantage of the off-season flight deals available during the winter months before cherry blossom season. Even with my last-minute decision, I was able to find round trip airfare from Los Angeles to Haneda for under $1,000 on Japanese Airlines. My son, who planned months ahead of time, was able to score round trip tickets for around $600 on American. What a bargain! If money is no object, I would recommend upgrading your seats to business class or first class as the flight is long and that extra space and the amenities are luxuries that make the beginning and end of your trip a seamless part of your vacation. As it was, we flew comfortably enough in economy and kudos to Japanese Airlines for having an incredibly professional and courteous flight crew. But even at that, it still ended up being around 13 hours in the air.

Secondly, I was apprehensive about getting around with the language barrier. I pictured myself immediately lost after

deboarding the plane, wandering aimlessly around the airport, giant luggage in tow. Knowing absolutely no Japanese besides “domo arigato” (thanks to the song by Styx from my long-ago adolescence), I wondered how I would make my way around, order food, find a bathroom. I realized, of course, how ridiculous that was – many people survive traveling with a language barrier. In fact, we did encounter a few people who spoke English very well or who were adroit at communicating quite well knowing as much English as I did Japanese. The main point here is: Don’t let anything get in your way from exploring faraway places! Many people are intimidated by traveling to places where the distance, culture, and language are far and foreign to what we are familiar with. Get out of your comfort zone! That being said, it did help that I was traveling with my son and my dear friend who are both seasoned travelers, so while Japan was also new to them, their confidence and savvy helped me feel safe and secure.

Once we landed in Tokyo, we located an ATM where we made a withdrawal for cash-only purchases. No need to worry about tip money because there is no tipping in Japan! But my research informed me that cash is necessary to pay street food vendors and other expenses like purchasing

hot and cold beverages, toys, even hot meals and more from the vending machines on every corner! Cash on hand is a must. And getting it from the ATM at the airport turned out to be a wise decision since it was really the only place where we encountered an ATM. I learned later on that there are ATM’s at the ever popular 7-11 convenience stores so cash problems are really not an issue. The cost to withdraw from an ATM was a mere $1.64 at the ATM at the airport.

Next, we needed to work out how we would get to our hotel. According to my research on the ever-reliable TikTok, the train is the only way to travel. It’s easy, it’s cheap, TikTok said. We approached a young man who was working at table loaded with brochures and pamphlets –surely he would have information – and he did. We inquired about the train and, as he eyed our jumbosized suitcases, he uttered only one word: “taxi.”

Welcome to the Neighborhood

After the twenty-minute cab ride, we arrived at The Mitsui Garden Hotel Roppongi Tokyo Premier in Roppongi (not to be confused with the nearby swanky Roppongi Hills). The hotel was located near the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, a shopping mall that houses several high-end stores, restaurants, the Mori museum which features rotating exhibits, and an

observation deck where you can purchase tickets to see the city from the 52nd floor; the view is stunning. Closer to our hotel, at the bottom of the hill, are the (seedy-ish) nightclubs, bars, karaoke lounges, and massage parlors, but also a splendid view of the Tokyo Tower. Our hotel, although located in the heart of a lively entertainment district, was quiet and clean and, more importantly, a mere five-minute walk to the train station. If you plan on getting around the city mostly by train, like we did, it’s smart to find accommodations near a train station. You can, of course, travel by taxi or even uber, but you’re not getting the real experience unless you travel by train.

Traveling by Train

Traveling via train in Tokyo is a phenomenal experience. First of all, the trains are always on time. Always. If you miss your train, don’t sweat it, the next one will arrive within minutes. And, remarkably, these underground train/subway stations are so clean. No sign of trash to be found anywhere. To be fair, Japan is incredibly clean – the streets are free of litter despite the fact that there are hardly any trash cans anywhere. We were shocked whenever we saw litter anywhere, but to see not a single piece of trash in the subway? Incredible! And even more incredible was the civilized way people boarded the train: first, by standing in single file lines and then courteously allowing people to deboard the train before calmly stepping aboard. Also, the people on the trains are silent. Nobody talks on the train. Any necessary communication was whispered. But mostly, everyone kept their lips sealed. This results in a very subdued and relaxing ride. Riding the train in Tokyo is such a positive experience – no wonder it is the mode of transportation; it is clean, safe, orderly, and free of stress. BART could learn A LOT from Japan Railways.

The most efficient way to get around by train is to purchase a prepaid railway card – either a Suica or Pasmo – which can be purchased from a machine at any train station. It doesn’t matter which card you get.

Both cards are the same, just sold by different companies, and you can use them to pay for bus and train transport as well as to make purchases at some convenience stores and vending machines. You can recharge them as needed when your balance is running low. At the end of your trip, you can return the cards and get some money back, but I never figured out how much (it was nominal) and kept my Pasmo card as a souvenir. Maybe I’ll use it again when I go back to Japan.

The Bullet Train

One day, we decided to take the bullet train to Kyoto. This meant heading to Tokyo Station, which is housed in a beautiful historical building located in the Chiyoda ward in Tokyo. Buzzing with energy of people coming and going, it is the Grand Central Station of Tokyo and it’s fantastic! Get your ticket then pick up something to nibble on during your train ride – there are tons of food shops all around. We stopped at a shop selling a

variety of snacks and bento boxes, and I picked up a fruit-and-custard sandwich, a pastry, a beautiful sushi bento box, and a strawberry drink. It was a lot of food for the two-hour ride, but it was such fun and it’s part of the experience! The train, of course, was immaculate. It was so clean, I took a photo of the floor for proof. “Nobody is going to believe this!” I thought to myself. The bullet train, or Shinkansen , is a sleek, high-speed machine that does indeed resemble a bullet – beautiful to look at actually, if you can appreciate the design of modern technology. The bullet train travels at around 320 mph. Can you imagine? That would mean we

could get from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours! It’s too bad that we won’t see the completion of the California HighSpeed Rail until it’s estimated completion in 2055 (sad face emoji). In any case, if you’re taking the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, you can purchase a ticket for around $120 for “ordinary” seats or you can purchase “better” seats in the “green car” for a little bit more; however, the difference between “ordinary” seats and the fancier “green car” seats aren’t really discernible. Riding the bullet train is a little bit like traveling on an airplane. Somewhere along the way,

man who ignored us as much as possible, but even he couldn’t spoil our dining experience. My only real complaint was a very chewy piece of unidentifiable fish that I chewed and chewed and chewed but, in the end, I was defeated and had to give up the masticated mass to my precious napkin. (I say “precious” because napkins aren’t readily available so hang on to those warm little washcloths they give you upon being seated because you will need it.) The quality of the ingredients and the care that goes into the preparation is evident. Many restaurants specialize in only a few dishes that they have perfected.

Our favorite spot was an Udon place near our hotel called TsuruTonTan Locabo Udon. They served up huge bowls of Udon noodles swimming in a flavorful broth served with delectably light and crispy tempura veggies and shrimp. Their crab Udon was savory and buttery with large tender pieces of crab swimming in the creamy broth. The food was so good and it was so conveniently located that we ate there multiple times.

a drinks-and-snacks cart from which you can purchase coffee, soda, and some snacks. Bring a book to read, but don’t miss the view of Mt. Fuji as the bullet train shoots past it.

Eating is an Adventure

The food in Japan is amazing. You can’t really ever have a bad meal – at least we never did. We had mediocre meals, but we were never greatly disappointed. Even the drinking water in Japan is superior! We did try a sushi restaurant located in the Nori Tower where the sushi was just meh . I’ve had better sushi in California (we’re so spoiled). But I couldn’t say it was bad. Our waiter was a surly old

A great spot for breakfast is Hoshino Coffee. This spot is so cute and they show those plastic models of food in the window so you can see just what they serve. You can try the superfluffy pancakes which are all the rage right now and “sets” which include free egg and toast or French toast, etc. with an order of coffee. I strayed from ordering a set and went with their souffle and it was spectacular –like eating a cloud. And their coffee is strong. A great way to start a day of exploring.

Eating in Japan is an adventure!

Most of the time, we just popped in to places where the pictures or the plastic replicas of food displayed in the window looked tasty. One day, after walking for hours in the Akihabara district, we popped into a restaurant that specialized in tempura. And it was one of the best meals we enjoyed. We learned to eat tempura using the illustrated instructions: mix some grated daikon into the dipping sauce, squeeze some lemon onto the tempera and sprinkle with a little flaky salt, dip into the sauce and enjoy.

Another time, in Ginza, we were hunting for a secret teppanyaki restaurant. This place was so discreet, it seemed we would never find it. Just by luck, a young man wearing a Sagawa Express uniform overheard us clumsily asking a security guard in a nearby office building if he knew where to find this hidden spot. And being a delivery man for Sagawa Express, of course the young man knew where it was; he momentarily abandoned his packages and personally escorted us to a building around the corner and across the street, down an elevator, and into… a closet. He then opened a door and entered the restaurant, leaving us in the pitch-black closet while he made inquiries on our behalf. Alas, the restaurant was not as secret as it seemed; it was booked solid for weeks and we were scheduled to depart the following day. But we did appreciate how the chef tried to schedule us in –the restaurant was small and there was nowhere to squeeze us in – except for maybe in the dark closet. We thanked the Sagawa Express employee for his

kindness and for hand-delivering us to the secret restaurant. Sagawa Express –they deliver!

We were a bit dejected that we missed the opportunity to eat at the secret spot, and we were definitely hungry by now. We wandered around for a bit and stumbled across a restaurant in a quiet alley. The entrance was down a steep flight of stairs and we didn’t know what to expect since we couldn’t read the menu on the poster board outside and there were no faux food models to be seen. We decided to take a chance and made our descent, ending up in a small dining room where we were the only diners. After trying to decipher our lunch options using Google Translate, we made our selections. I ended up with a fatty pork belly dish served with oden which is a fish stew consisting of boiled egg, daikon, and fish cakes simmered in a dashi broth – all things that Google failed to translate. My friend ordered beef with rice topped with a fried egg. We were both satisfied, and glad that we tried something new. In our quest to collect experiences, we

added today’s food adventure to our growing collection.

One of my favorite places to try food in Japan was from the konbini or convenience stores – 7-11, Lawson’s, Family Mart. The variety of food on offer is insane – egg salad sandwiches (light and eggy), fruit sandwiches (fruit with fluffy whipped cream and custard between pillowy slices of crustless white bread), onigiri or rice balls, bento boxes, curries, hot coffee, cold coffee, smoothies, and on and on. I would have to stay in Japan for a year to try everything – maybe even longer! For a quick snack or even an entire meal, this is a fun and budget-friendly way to nosh on some surprisingly tasty foods. If you’re hungry and don’t know where to eat, head to the basement of most any mall, or anywhere there is a busy train station. There are tons of restaurants and food stands in these places. You will definitely not go hungry in Japan.

Places to Go and Things to See

−Continued in our next issue

THINGS TO DO

April 29th – 30th

Coco in Concert Live to Film

March 25th – May 29 th

Weekends & Select Weekdays

Fantastical Flowers

Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy

At Fantastical Flowers, we're celebrating everything that blossoms—and everything we love about spring. The park's majestic gardens have been transformed with blooms big and small in every color of the rainbow. As you stroll through the park and enjoy all your favorite rides and attractions, you’ll also discover: Larger-than-life flower silk sculptures created by master artisans, Colorful beds full of spring flowers in bloom, A human-size “birdhouse” for fun family photo ops, Fun springtime interactive activities for the whole family, Flower-themed food and drinks, and Live entertainment. Included with admission.

5th – 30 th A Distinct Society

Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

By chance and geographic anomaly, a quiet library in northern Vermont straddles the U.S.-Canada border. Most years it’s just a curiosity, but during the “Muslim ban,” it becomes an unlikely meeting place for an Iranian family who find themselves on opposite

sides of an invisible divide. When the Québécoise librarian, a U.S. border patrol officer, and a local teenager become involved, all must choose between breaking the law and saving themselves. Ticket Office: 650-9036000 | mvcpa.com.

23rd Letters From Home: The 50 States Tour Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts

As the official California stop of their 50-States Tour, Letters From Home will bring back the style of the USO with a high-energy performance featuring Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann! This duo has performed over 900 shows across the United States for veterans and their families and performed at the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. The show is filled with singing, tap dancing, knee-slapping jokes and audience interaction that make up a spectacular performance geared towards uniting the nation through music. Ticket Office: 650903-6000 | mvcpa.com.

28th – 29 th 37th Annual Gamble Garden Spring Tour Gamble

Garden, Palo Alto

Spring Tour is Gamble’s biggest fund-raising event. For 36 years we have hosted tours of local private gardens and offered a host of exciting vendors, lunches, and musicians at the Waverley Street location. This fun two-day event is a “must” on your calendar. A Spring Tour ticket is good for one-time entry into each of the five private gardens on the tour. All private gardens on the tour are suitable for people who use walkers, but none are suitable for wheelchairs. All Spring Tour activities at Gamble Garden are fully accessible. Activities at Gamble Garden are free and open to all.

29 th Children of the Dragon

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

Come to honor some of the rich Vietnamese traditions at this joyful program. Revel in the spectacular Lion Dance - this dazzling tradition is a huge favorite. Make a dragon puppet, snap a commemorative family photo in a xich-lo, and stop by the theatre to watch a short video and learn more about Vietnamese customs while getting to know those of friends and neighbors.

29 th – 30 th Coco in Concert Live to Film

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

Symphony San Jose will present Disney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert featuring a screening of the complete film with Oscar® and Grammy®winning composer Michael Giacchino’s musical score performed live to the film. The concert will be led by conductor Susie Seiter. Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

30th Martín García García in Concert

Cubberley Theatre, Palo Alto

Born in Gijón, Spain, Martín García García began his musical studies at the age of 5. He graduated from Reina Sofía School of Music, where he studied for more than a decade with Galina Eguiazarova. He received the prize for the Best Student of the Chair from Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain. García has won first prize in several national and international competitions. For the past two years, García has resided in New York City, where he has been furthering his artistic training with the distinguished pianist Jerome Rose.

May 5 th Bryan Bielanski Live

Henfling's Tavern, Ben Lomond

Imagine Nirvana and the Beatles had a kid together who became an acoustic rock singer-songwriter: that's Bryan Bielanski! Although he is inspired by some of the rock greats like Tom Petty and REM, he has a distinct musical style and lyrics that make you think deep thoughts and feel like you're really alive! Bryan Bielanski is full of fun energy and catchy songs and he is ready to entertain you! For more information go to www. bryanssuperhappyfuntime.com.

7 th Siblings in Song

Valley Presbyterian Church, Portola Valley

Continuing their long-standing history of collaboration, Ragazzi Boys Chorus will join forces with the Peninsula Girls Chorus for their sixth Siblings in Song, a rousing concert celebrating the dynamic performance skills of both groups. This concert will showcase Ragazzi’s Young Men’s Ensemble and Peninsula Girls Chorus’ Ensemble choir, concluding with an exciting finale featuring the combined voices. $30 General Admission; $20 Students/ Seniors. Free admission to current choristers wearing a Peninsula Girls Chorus or Ragazzi logo shirt when accompanied by an adult with a general admission purchase. For information or to order tickets, the public may visit Ragazzi.org or call (650) 362-4425.

12 th – 14 th Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

A powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Awardwinning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. Composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded his mesmerizing soundtrack while producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have completely reimagined the ground-breaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, stage and costume designs. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary power and grace of its music and dance–beloved by fans of all ages. Fall in love with the magic of Riverdance all over again.

13th HMB Wine & Jazz Festival

Main Street, Half Moon Bay

The second annual Half Moon Bay Wine & Jazz Festival will feature 40+ renowned California wineries and nationally-known jazz artists including Paula West, the Marcus Shelby Quintet, and the John Santos Sextet. Top Coast-side food vendors will be serving up delicious cuisine and a wide variety of local brews will be on tap in the craft beer garden. The event will take place from 12-5 p.m. along Half Moon Bay’s charming and historic Main Street. General admission tickets - $55 ; VIP tickets - $125. Music only tickets - $25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation to support students of the arts. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.hmbwineandjazzfest.com.

16 th – 21st 1776

San Jose Center for the Performing Arts

What will it take to get two dozen powerfully passionate, exceedingly complicated, and all-too-human individuals to settle their differences, while they hold the very future of a nation in their hands? A glorious multiracial cast of female, transgender, and nonbinary actors portray the fiery founders of this country, putting history in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around—and the result is an epic show of passion, debate, and roof-raising musical fireworks.

May 16th – 21st 1776

morgan hill MUSHROOM festival

Ready for a FUNgi time?

Arts & Crafts, Gourmet Food Booths, Entertainment and much more await you at the 42nd Annual Morgan Hill Mushroom Festival, May 27-28, 2023.

this family fun, two-day festival includes live entertainment, shopping galore at over 135 arts and crafts and retail vendor booths, gourmet offerings featuring mushroom inspired cuisine, mushroom educational exhibit, cooking demonstrations, strolling musicians and street performers!

Visit our Mushroom Expo sponsored by the Western Mushroom Growers Association who will be educating festivalgoers on how mushrooms are grown, the health benefits of mushrooms, selling mushroom growing kits and handing out mushroom samples, including the possibility of tasting mushroom beer!

The Cooking stage will have demonstrations by local and celebrity chefs creating mushroom inspired dishes that you will be able to sample. And you can’t miss Chef Landry’s Comedy Cooking Show all the way from Louisiana on both days of the festival.

Food vendors will be on hand with mushroom inspired cuisine to please everyone’s palate. The festival star – The Mushroom – can be tasted in soup, stuffed, sandwiched, deep-fried, sauteed, marinated and much more. Other food choices include a wide range of gourmet food choices from local bbq’s, Mexican & Cajun foods, BBQ Oysters, mushroom cheesesteaks, ethnic foods, burgers and bacon wrapped hot dogs. There will also be a variety of desserts & beverages.

Local wineries will be pouring popular wines in the numerous wine tents throughout the festival or you can enjoy a variety of microbrews and domestic beers in the beer gardens.

Kick up your heels with a full weekend of entertainment. Local favorite Shane Dwight will be back from Nashville, and the popular Joe Sharino Band is headlining Saturday’s line-up. Sunday will be another great day of energetic bands so get ready to dance the day away. Headlining Sunday and closing this year’s 42nd Annual entertainment is San Francisco’s hottest dance band, The Party Starters. Street performers and strolling musicians will also be on hand for your enjoyment. You can find a full line-up on the festival’s website www.mhmmg.org.

And don’t forget to visit the business vendors with special offers, deals and giveaways on their services. There will also be some kid’s booths with some crafts, face painting, games and giveaways as well as a Eurobungy and Waterballerz fun!᯽

Admission is $20 adults and kids under 12 free. Use promo code MMAG2023 for a $5 discount per ticket. Hours are 10am - 7pm on Saturday and 10am – 6pm on Sunday. For information call (408) 778-1786. For more information, vendor lists, full entertainment line-up and to purchase tickets go to www.mhmmg.org.

7Spring

Beauty Essentials

Favorite additions to your spring beauty routine

Doctor Lip Bang’s Lip Freak Tints

Light-weight, buildable and best of all, 100% natural. With a signature “buzz,” the unique shades can be used for a more natural look or layered for a bold, eye-catching ensemble. $19.95 for a set of four at lipbang.com/lipfreaktints.

Beauty Pie Youthbomb Double-Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum

Oars and Alps Wake Up Eye Stick

This is my new favorite musthave beauty product—and it’s actually designed for men! This wake-up stick contains caffeine to help de-puff eyes and reduce fine lines and dark circles. Gently roll under eyes to cool and soothe the delicate skin. $22 at oarsandalps.com/products/ under-eye-treament.

Taila Vayu Illuminating Toning Mist

This toner hydrates and refreshes and boosts the performance of face oil, serum or moisturizer. Infused with Holy Basil, Rose, Cucumber and Aloe Vera to draw out impurities, reduce oiliness, soothe and heal skin, and improves firmness. The light rose scent is delightfully calming. $60 at tailaskincare.com.

Aniise Collagen Facial Mask with Hibiscus

Treat your skin to this luxurious mask packed with collagen, natural oils and plant extracts. Hibiscus, a potent antioxidant has anti-aging properties and helps reverse damage caused by UV rays. With regular use, this mask will help stimulate collagen which helps maintain elasticity and improves the appearance of wrinkles. $82 at aniise.com.

I was skeptical about this night serum. I’m a believer in the power of retinol to erase fine lines, and to smooth and brighten skin. According to dermatologist Dr. Andrew Markey, this super-charged, “graduation-level” night serum was designed for retinol users who are ready to kick things up a notch. And $170 at beautypie.com/ us/shop/skincare/youthbomb.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream

If you are fans of Charlotte Tilbury’s ever-popular Magic Cream, then you will love this Magic Body Cream! The rich luxurious cream is infused with caffeine and Hyaluronic Acid. The result is smooth, soft, hydrated skin. In clinical trials, Hydration is boosted in just 28 seconds, skin feels and looks 40% firmer, cellulite appears reduced by 60%, and stretch marks appear reduced by 57%. $80 at CharlotteTilbury.com.

Suntegrity 5-in-1 Tinted Mineral Sunscreen for Face

This tinted sunscreen has everything you need to protect and nourish your face. The formula contains antioxidants that help to scavenge surface free radicals while providing mineral Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 protection. It comes in 5 shades from light to medium and offers a beautiful foundation that hydrates skin. $45 at suntegrityskincare.com.

BISCOTTI

Treats so nice, you bake them twice!

Savory or sweet, Biscotti is a delicious treat. Bake up a batch using these simple, fool-proof recipes from Trish Lobenfeld’s cookbook Ultimate Biscotti: 75 sweet, savory and gluten-free recipes.

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¾ cup whole toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

¾ cup golden raisins

½ cup (~2 medium carrots) peeled, finely shredded carrots

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Icing

7-to-8 ounces white chocolate (see “Icing the Biscotti” on page x for instructions)

Setup

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash: beat the egg with a splash of cold water until it is frothy and set it aside with a pastry brush. Line a 13 by-18by-1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Method

In a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt on high until thickened, about 30 seconds. Mix in the walnuts, raisins, and carrots. Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg, and beat on low, scraping the sides of the bowl and the beater as needed, until the flour is moist. Scrape the sides and beater again and mix on mediumhigh until the dough is smooth, about 10 seconds.

CARROT CAKE BISCOTTI

The addition of cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg provides a spice-cake taste and aroma and dipping the cookie in white chocolate mimics carrot cake’s rich, silky cream-cheese icing.

Makes: 2 dozen biscotti

Egg wash

1 large egg

Biscotti

2 large eggs

⅔ cup granulated sugar

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use your hands to form it into a thick log. Roll the log back and forth, adding a bit of dusting flour as needed, until it is 18-inches long by 2-inches wide. Cut it in half crosswise, and place both halves on the prepared baking sheet, straightening them if needed to keep their shape. Gently press the logs to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Brush both logs with the egg wash and bake for 25 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch but yield just a bit. Transfer the sheet to a cooling rack and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the logs on an angle into 1/2-inch slices. Lay them flat on the baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, turn the cookies over, and bake them for another 10 minutes. When they have finished baking, lift the parchment paper off the baking sheet, and transfer the biscotti to a cooling rack. Ice the cooled biscotti and store them in an airtight container for up to 6 weeks.

PIZZA BISCOTTI

Sun-dried tomatoes provide a concentrated tomato flavor. Combine them with Parmesan cheese, Italian herb seasoning, and garlic, and you get pizza biscotti. Serve these with a dry wine, a bowl of olives, and a dollop of pesto.

Makes: 2 dozen biscotti

Egg wash

1 large egg

Biscotti

1 cup dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons Italian herb seasoning

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon garlic powder

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

3 large eggs

2 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon baking powder

Setup

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash: beat the egg with a splash of cold water until it’s frothy and set aside with a pastry brush. Line a 13 by-18-by-1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Method

In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, puree the sun-dried tomatoes, butter, cheese, herb seasoning, sugar, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne, scraping the bowl as needed. Mix in the eggs until thoroughly combined. Add the flour and baking powder and pulse until the flour is moist and smooth, without over processing, scraping the bowl as needed.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use your hands to form it into a thick log. Roll the log back and forth, adding a bit of dusting flour as needed, until it is 18-inches long by 2-inches wide. Cut it in half crosswise, and place both halves on the prepared baking sheet, straightening them if needed to keep their shape. Gently press the logs to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Brush both logs with the egg wash and bake for 25 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch but yield just a bit. Transfer the sheet to a cooling rack and let it sit for at least one hour.

Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the logs on an angle into 1/2-inch slices. Lay them flat on the baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, turn the cookies over, and bake them

for another 12 minutes. When they have finished baking, lift the parchment paper off the baking sheet, and transfer the biscotti to a cooling rack. Savory biscotti contain little to no sugar, a natural preservative, and butter or oil, which means they are more perishable than their sweeter cousins. Store at room temperature for 2-3 days in an airtight container. The biscotti freeze well and can be thawed in small quantities, as needed. Warm savory biscotti as you would bread to activate the delicious aromas.

RED VELVET BISCOTTI

Red velvet cake has an interesting history, with disputes over its assumed origin in the 1930s at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria hotel. What’s interesting is our fascination with its color. The original versions relied on the anthocyanin (a natural pigment) in the cocoa powder reacting with the acid in baking powder and buttermilk. The color was not as deeply red as today’s versions that incorporate red dye. It is certainly an eye-appealing dessert, and these cookies, with their red color, pecans, and white chocolate icing, mimic the cake nicely.

Makes: 2 dozen biscotti

Egg wash

1 large egg

Biscotti

1 tablespoon cold water

1 tablespoon buttermilk powder

2 large eggs

⅔ cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 ½ cups whole toasted pecans, coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons red food dye

1 ¾ cups, plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

3 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

Icing

7-to-8 ounces white chocolate (see “Icing the Biscotti” on page XX for instructions)

Setup

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. In a small bowl, make the egg wash: beat the egg with a splash of cold water until it’s frothy and set aside with a pastry brush. Line a 13 by-18-by-1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper.

Method

Put the water in a small bowl and stir in the buttermilk powder until smooth to reconstitute it.

In a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment or with a hand mixer, beat the reconstituted buttermilk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt on high until thickened, about 30 seconds. Mix in the pecans and red food dye. Add the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder and beat on low, scraping the sides of the bowl and the beater as needed, until the

flour is moist. Scrape the sides and beater again and mix on medium-high until the dough is smooth, about 10 seconds.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and use your hands to form it into a thick log. Roll the log back and forth, adding a bit of dusting flour as needed, until it is 18-inches long by 2-inches wide. Cut it in half crosswise, and place both halves on the prepared baking sheet, straightening them if needed to keep their shape. Gently press the logs to about a 1/2-inch thickness. Brush both logs with the egg wash and bake for 25 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch but yield just a bit. Transfer the sheet to a cooling rack and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the logs on an angle into 1/2-inch slices. Lay them flat on the baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven, turn the cookies over, and bake them for another 10 minutes. When they have finished baking, lift the parchment paper off the baking sheet, and transfer the biscotti to a cooling rack. Ice the cooled biscotti and store them in an airtight container for up to 6 weeks.

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FOOD & FUN for EVERYONE

By CECILE CRUZ

Located just across the Bay from San Francisco, Oakland is often overlooked and underrated, relegated to the shadows of its iconic Bay Area neighbor. But, known affectionately among locals as "The East Bay," it is one of the largest cities in the Bay Area and is home to a stunning diversity of history, arts, culture, outdoor activities, and a plethora of fine dining options.

Oakland offers everything from romantic getaways to fun-filled family adventures and we did both! We enjoyed our romantic getaway so much, we decided we needed to come back and bring the whole family for a mini family vacation!

A Romantic Getaway

First up was the romantic getaway. We arrived at the Claremont Club and Spa, a Fairmont Hotel, on a fairly cold evening. Outdoor patio heaters were ablaze in the outside seating areas to allow guests to enjoy the incredible view of the bay regardless of the chill.

Built in 1915, this historic hotel is simply stunning. It retains the elegance of times past but has been updated with three pools and a modern fitness center, replete with treadmills featuring smart displays that allow you to binge watch your favorite shows while working out. There are separate rooms for spin class, yoga, and weights as well, so whatever motivates you to get moving, there is something for everyone. The hotel is definitely designed for those who want to be active. Along with the swimming pools and the amazing fitness center, there are tennis courts and private lessons are available, as well as personal trainers and fitness classes. But for those who simply wish to relax, the four-star spa offers facials and massage services.

Our room, a Deluxe Bay View overlooking the tennis courts, was spacious, clean, and stocked with coffee and tea and plush terrycloth bathrobes.

After settling into our room, we walked a short downhill mile to Millennium for a romantic dinner for two.

Dinner for Two

Millennium is an upscale, fully vegan restaurant. It has been featured by the Huffington Post and Food & Wine Magazine as one of "The Top 25 Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in the World". In 2016, it was awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand. All of this praise is not without merit. Their menu is intriguing and innovative and changes depending on what is in season. The ambience inside Millennium is pleasant though loud -- most of the tables sit opposite the bar, along a narrow thoroughfare. But such an environment is perfectly conducive to a romantic evening as conversing with your date requires sitting quite close to one another and speaking directly into one another’s ears.

A good opening for any romantic evening is to start with cocktails. We shucked the kids; it was time to get busy: a Widow’s Peak for me -described as citrusy, sweet, and effervescent -and a "tart and bittersweet" Bourbon Renewal for the spouse.

While settling in with our cocktails, we perused the menu. On Fridays, Millennium offers a prix fixe four-course menu: an amuse bouche, a selection of appetizer, main course, and dessert.

I was so excited about the menu, I did not fully pay attention to the description of the amuse bouche , but it included in-house focaccia,

marinated mushrooms and olives, and a house spread which I think involved butternut squash. It was absolutely delicious.

For appetizers, I tried the coriander and arborio-crusted oyster mushrooms with a Calabrian chili-Meyer lemon and caper aioli served with a cabbage slaw. The hubby tried the Gold Beet and Blood Orange Salad served with chaat and chili pickled shallots, a carrot miso and mustard seed dressing, mint, cilantro, toasted pistachios, and a crisp pappadam. The intermingling of spices and international flavors was delectable!

After that it was on to the entrees. There is something about eating food described with exotic words that makes you really feel like you’re getting something special and unique! With my entree alone, I had to google the following terms: brik (a brittle pastry), spigarello (a green leafy weed related to broccoli), and chermoula (a marinade or relish).

As it turns out these comprise elements of Tunisian (brik) , Italian (spigarello) , and Moroccan (chermoula) cuisine. This (con) fusion was delicious!

The husband's dish, though not as fusionoriented, was equally delectable: dark chocolate mole, masa chochoyotes , turnips, and braised greens with ruby grapefruit, jicama, a nopales salsa, and cashew crema.

Dessert was a Milk Chocolate Rum torte made with espresso anglaise, toasted hazelnut, cocoa nib crumble, served with a coca whipped cream as well as an order of Buñuelos Mexicanos served with anise piloncillo (cone-shaped Mexican brown sugar) ice-cream, roasted pineapple, and guava sauce. The buñuelos were light and not too sweet and the ice-cream, made inhouse, was subtle, with just a hint of anise, and creamy, perfectly complimenting the crisp buñuelos.

Stuffed to the gills and feeling very sated, we ambled back to the Claremont arm-inarm, only a little sorry that it was an uphill stroll.

The next morning, we ordered breakfast in our room: fresh fruit, orange juice, oatmeal with flax seed, dried fruit, and brown sugar toppings and a carafe of hot coffee. We wrapped up our morning and our romantic getaway with a lovely stroll through the hotel grounds. As we viewed the old timey pictures lining the halls of past hotel events and guests, we were happy to have made a little history of our own here and look forward to coming back -- both to Oakland and to the Claremont Club and Spa!

Family Time!

As we pondered our romantic Oakland getaway, it was clear that there was much more to do together here as a family. So, we brought the kids back with us.

This was a lot of fun! Oakland offers a Vegan Trail, offering plant-based options from very casual food-truck fare to high-concept vegan cuisine. During our overnighter here, we were lucky to try many of them.

Our first stop was Roasted and Raw on the vegan trail, a food-truck-turned-cafe offering plant-based breakfast sandwiches, burritos, black bean burgers, comforting pasta dishes, and innovative menu items such as jackfruit carnitas and mushroom carne asada. We went with falafel burgers, the fiesta taco bowl, and yucca fries, all very mildly spiced and filling. The kids also gave their chocolate chip cookies a big thumbs-up!

To burn off some calories, we made our way to Lake Merritt. It was a beautiful morning — clear, sunny, and brisk. The entire circumference of Lake Merritt is 3.4 miles, the perfect distance for a morning stroll or a training run — we encountered many of both stripes: morning strollers and fit runners. It is no wonder that that Oakland hosts a running festival (our family of runners may find ourselves back to participate!).

From Lake Merritt, it was a short walk to the Oakland Museum of California. This place is a hidden gem within the hidden gem of Oakland. One of their current exhibits featured Angela Davis, an icon of Black radical resistance and feminism and whose historical significance continues to resonate with Black Lives Matter. The

Angela Davis Exhibit along with additional exhibits on Photography as Activism and on California History seem to highlight social change as a part of Oakland’s cultural DNA. After an afternoon of much strolling, we worked up an appetite and headed to Malibu Burgers, another stop on the Vegan Trail. They have an incredibly extensive menu of burger varieties and the options we tried were delicious: their signature Malibu and the Ghost town Burger. We also relished their Stadium fries and gave the Tempura Fried Oreos a whirl. Seriously yummy.

And, although we were full, we enjoyed free popcorn refills at the Landmark Piedmont Theater, located just a 5-minute walk down the road from Malibu Burgers. This theater is indeed a landmark and another homage to Oakland’s long history. It is the oldest operating movie theater in Oakland and offers an “eclectic mix of independent, art-house and Hollywood fare.”

Ritz Carlton patio

After a long day, we slept soundly and awoke to another beautiful Oakland day. We started our day with a visit to Timeless Coffee easily one of the highlights of our trip. Everything is vegan — pesto rolls, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, cakes, scones…and it was all absolutely delicious. If we could, we would eat up their goodies daily! Try their pesto rolls. Seriously!

Jack London Square was our next destination. We were fortunate enough to catch the Farmer's Market where, much to our pleasant surprise, there were lots of plant-based goods on display — everything from shoes and wallets, to candles, ramen broth bases, and health and beauty products. We walked along the trail, saw one of the reconstructions of Jack London’s Cabin, and took in a little more Oakland history.

Malibu Burgers

, a must and “an Oakland staple since 2006” serving “authentic Louisiana creole flavor.” I had

We also tried the mac and cheese, the creamy mashed potatoes, country collard greens, cinnamon brown sugar yams, and cornbread. The servings are generous and

Mr. Dewey’s Cashew

This place has only dairy-free ice cream options — and lots of them! Caramel

Almond Crunch, Cool Mint Chip, Mocha Chip, and Coconut Chocolate were among the flavors that caught our attention. But wait, that’s not all! Mr. Dewey’s also offers vegan chocolate chip cookies, ice cream sandwiches (made with previously mentioned cookies!), bon bons, and vegan caramel and chocolate ice cream sauces. If we weren’t so stuffed, we would have ordered one of everything! What we did have was creamy and rich and well worth the dessert-pocket space we reserved for it!

With full stomachs and hearts, we concluded our trip. Oakland is an absolute gem. There is so much history on display throughout the city. There is more culture and diversity that is so openly and widely celebrated than we had previously realized, along with a surprisingly strong sense of community and a thriving vegan food scene. Oakland definitely has shown us that it holds its own against the backdrop of San Francisco with its rich history, celebration of diversity and the arts, and a plethora of unique and delicious dining options – all to be enjoyed without the traffic and parking headaches of its bigger-city neighbor. We’re so glad we could spend some time here and look forward to coming back.z

Lake Merritt