Dynamo Donuts!

2760 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94110

(415) 920-1978

My brother brought over Dynamo Donuts today. Dynamo Donuts, like so many of the trendiest eateries in the San Francisco area, touts "organic, sustainable, and local ingredients whenever possible."

Vanilla Bean

I tend to believe that doughnuts--no matter what they are made of---are poison, but at times like these, I say screw it.

$2.00-$3.50 each

Here is a review of these glistening, stylish, fried fat pills.

Each had that distinctive doughnut texture that comes from shortening (Dynamo apparently uses palm oil shortening): dense but light, and ever-so-slightly chewy. They also appeared and felt just-made (even though it had been at least 90 minutes since they arrived from the store). They were so delicate that it was impossible to lift one without indenting it with my fingers.  But of course, this made them even more appetizing.

Also, none were overly sweet.  Now that's quite different from most doughnuts out there.

Vanilla bean, pictured at the top of this post was quite vanilla:  mild and simple. 

Passion Fruit

Gently sweet and fruity, Passion Fruit was one of my favorites.  Certainly, with its chunky adornments, it was the showiest looking doughnut of the bunch.

Molasses Pear

Not bad, not bad at all.  I thought it was apple at first, but nope, it was pear.

Cornmeal Cherry

I couldn't taste the cornmeal in Cornmeal Cherry, but it had a nice cherry kick to it.

Maple Glazed Bacon Apple

The bacon doughnut was, I am ashamed to say, my favorite, or tied for favorite with Passion Fruit.  I never eat bacon...well...unless featured with chocolate or baked goods.  It was the sweet-n-salty combo of flavors that did me in.

Chocolate Rose

Cute doughnut. I didn't taste the rose water, but I did taste dark chocolate. 

Chocospice

I didn't taste the spice in this one but I registered slightly fudgey, semi-sweet, and brownie-like.

Lemon Thyme

My second favorite was Lemon Thyme.  Loved the combo of flavors. 

Dynamo serves coffee at its shop, and I imagine that the doughnuts would be totally dynamo with Dynamo coffee...  I wonder I would see police officers on breaks in there.

Vanilla Moon Bakery

Saturday, October 2, 2010

872 Laurel St 

San Carlos, CA 94070

(650) 593-3015

Here's a bakery that was high on my list during my cupcake-infatuation a few years ago.

Red Velvet

Were I still in that stage, I suspect I would be coming here anytime I was in the Belmont neib'. Vanilla Moon is a feminine bakery: set in rich, dark paneling, it  is intimate, with little round tables--ideal for chatting. It serves classic-flavored cupcakes, cookies, bars, lunch items (sandwiches and quiche), coffees, and Mightly Leaf teas, which come out on a tray with a teapot.

In the two hours that I was there on this Saturday morning, I cannot recall a single man walking in.  That couldn't have been true (Belmont does have a male population), but I didn't notice any. I did see many women there though, alone or sipping coffee with a friend over a little table.  With small children, on occasion.

SL, a karate friend and I were among those pairs of females, catching up on karate gossip and other developments. We fit right in.

Cupcakes are $3.50 each. The Red Velvet cupcake was good but the cake was a bit firm.  I say, not dry, but firm.  The frosting was a ten, though.

                                       High Hat  - Woohoo! Woohoo!!

High Hat reminds me of chocolate dipped cones I used to get from Carvel as a kid.  These are chocolate cupcakes topped with a voluminous mound of marshmallow cream:

This one was a winner.  After finishing this one, I was scrapping the wrapper with a spoon to get every last bit.  The cake was moist and but not oily, and just the right sweetness.  I'll have to venture outside of my neighborhood bubble again soon to try Vanilla Moon's other stuff, namely their chocolate cupcake with the white swirl on top that looks like a Hostess cupcake.

In Short

Food: Cupcakes, pastries, cookies and sandwiches.
Bathrooms: Large, private, clean (a woman's bathroom!).
Ambiance: Classy-but-casual, elegant-but-casual interior with view of downtown; a feminine vibe.
Other: Smack in downtown Belmont.

Tomatero Farm

Saturday, October 2, 2010

San Mateo Farmers' Market

Making my rounds of Bay Area farmers' markets, I went on Saturday to San Mateo's, perched on the College of San Mateo (CSM) campus.  There, I discovered Tomatero Farm among other delights (namely Broiche Bakery--OMG, and my beloved Bolani bread stand) to be covered at some point, hopefully soon.

I gravitate towards tomatoes and strawberries, more for their looks than their tastes, and Tomatero's produce was radiant. In addition to selling at the CSM farmers' market, Tomatero Farm, from Watsonville, CA does home and wholesale business.

Heirlooms, ready to eat.

A feast for the eyes, these tomatoes demand to be bought, sliced and drizzled in olive oil.

Green Zebras - glistening.

 More heirloom beauties.

Cherry tomatoes

"Tomatero," is Spanish for tomato picker.

'Tis the season to be checking out tomatoes.

The Holy Trinity of Stanford Campus Eats

In addition to abundant sunshine, Stanford has some pretty good eats on campus,  including a famous San Francisco sandwich shop with a cult following.  This is especially convenient because the campus is self-enclosed.  Some of the eats are outstanding.  My three favorites:

Fraiche Yogurt,  Tresidder Union

The San Francisco Chronicle Special: steel cut oats with organic yogurt topped with fruit and nuts.

Ike's Place, Jen Hsun Huang School of Engineering Center

I consider it a godsend that Ike's Place chose Stanford for its new location. Ike's features sandwiches that will satisfy a snobby East Coaster.  Just like it's service, Ike's extensive menu is very accommodating.  

If you are vegan, you can order the Vegan Elmo with "Cucumbers, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Pesto, Cream Cheese.

If vegetarian, you can get the Chelsea Clinton- "Vegan Turkey, French Dressing, Avocado, Smoked Gouda."

Carnivores can get the Kryptonite with "Roast Beef, Corned Beef, Pastrami, Salami, Turkey, Bacon, Ham, Mozzarella Sticks, Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Avocado, Pesto, EXTRA Pepper Jack."

These are just examples. There are dozens of options. 

You can also order half-sandwiches here.  As for me, I love the wordy "Going Home for Thanksgiving" sandwich.  Turkey, cranberry sauce, Sriracha, Havarti.  

"Going Home for Thanksgiving"

Danica, dearest campus buddy and food companion, went for the "Bill Walsh" with  turkey, avocado, and Havarti which this slender creature swallowed in just one bite. 

The "Bill Walsh"

Inside the kitchen.

The line at 11:45am on a Thursday.

The line right before noon.  

Tip: Go early.   We were delighted with a special treat the other day: Ike was hand-delivering the sandwiches to customers!  If you look closely at the center of this picture, you will see the blur by the pillar--that's him, zipping back-and-fourth in his spiffy black vest!

Coupa Café, Y2E2 Building

Scrambled eggs with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and chives

I write about Coupa every few days it seems. The other day, we went for breakfast.  We were at work, but it felt like vacation.  But now that Ike's is here: let the battle begin between these two!

I know Stanford students work extremely hard. But they are also so spoiled.