Crunchy fish tacos in Temescal

La calaca taco, in a small strip mall wedged between the 24, telegraph ave, and 51st, has some of the best fish tacos I've had. What's great is that you can order them crispy especial, and that means, inside shell is deep fried, and the taco is smothered in guacamole. Also they have habenero salsa. That's a winner in my eyes already! 

San Francisco's first Chamorro restaurant and Joie's bday

My oldest sister requested that her friends and us to have dinner at Prubechu in the city for her birthday. It's the city's first Guamanian restaurant. And at around $40 you get a 7 course meal. While it may be hard to fork up that much $$ for food your grandma makes for free, I say do it! Because this is not food your grandma makes! Dishes are presented beautifully and flavors are thoughtfully combined, each dish meant to take you back to the island but also be delighted in the new way you are eating it. Place was tiny and naturally we pretty much filled the whole restaurant. 

Just turned 29

I just turned 29 and of course naturally I have a lot of thoughts. What I've done. What I still need to get done. My current place of being. What the future bring me. And reminding myself that everything will be alight! Anyway. Lotsa good food moments and even bad ones today. Just like life I must take the good with the bad. Bad included a strange fish taco I had with apples in it. Strange huh? It was. But the highlight was drinks and food at 1760. That's thier addreSs 1760 Polk, St San Francisco CA. Me and my very specific cravings, I knew for months that I wanted sea urchin with fresh pasta on my birthday. And that's what I got! Uni Bucatini. Sounds strange but it's not. When sea urchin is fresh, there is no metallic of fishy taste. It was served with a cream sauce and topped with Panko crumbs. Bucatini is probably one the most fun pasta shapes out there. Long like spaghetti but hollow like a macaroni.  I am definitely thankful for the many drinks and food I received today. 

You should try: Southie

Same owners as it's next door neighbor, wood tavern. Southie is a hot sandwich shop with good salad options. They have a small selection of beer and wine on tap. (Yes wine is on tap too.)With the tiniest open kitchen all I could see is a broiler and a few electric cook tops, yet all thier dishes are executed well.  The menu changes of course. Sometimes they have Dungeness crab or steak and Brie. I actually like thier pork belly sandwich. It's a good thick slab of pork belly fried and marinated in cumin. Reminds me of lechon.  Service is good. 

Southie

6311 College Ave 

Oakland, CA 94618

Neighborhood: Elmwood 

Rituals

These are things I do to help me feel grounded.

Bar method 3x week:
Kind of crazy that I've been doing my bar method class pretty consistently for the past 6 months. 3x week. I didn't do so well, on the losing weight part, but sometimes I do feel lighter. I have a better awareness of my waist/abs. My lower back rarely bothers me anymore. Plus I feel some new muscles. And my buttocks does a look a little lifted as we say. You want an ass. Not a "th-ass." That's when your ass and thighs look like 1 thing. My posture is better. And for a good hr about 3x a week, I'm breathing well, standing straight. I'm surprised how something like breathing right is coming automatically during some of my movements. I used to have to be very aware of it. Breathing better is definitely something I need to work on and I am working on.

Jumping in my pool:
It's summer time too, so sometimes I jump in my swimming pool. It's deep. It reminds me of being back home, living in an island, where finding water to swim in is a lot easier. I like doing laps. And I always take the time to just float on the deep end on stare at the trees and just think or try to think of nothing. Sometimes looking for answers.

Grabbing Nourishing food:
The weekends for me means farmers market. I like grabbing mango rose lassis at the oakland grand ave farmers market. Flowers sometimes. And then even some wildfennel and orange salame from boccolone. And fresh fruit of course, usually strawberries, blueberries, and some kind of pitted fruit like peaches, plums, or apricots. Eggs. Kale. I think I always have Kale and cilantro in my refrigerator. Lately I've been getting into keffir water too. I've been drinking the lemon cayenne Kevita water. I just grab it from Safeway. I also like keeping my freezer stocked with chicken breast for my salads and salad greens for that too.

Hiking
Getting lost in nature. Looking at trees. Getting some sunlight. Seeing the ocean. Getting away from the craziness that our week day jobs entails. Sometimes thinking about nothing other than trying to get one foot in front of the other is a good thing.

This weekend: kylan will be an adult soon

This weekend has been quite eventful. I'm supposed to be preparing for something but I'm procrastinating by blogging. But my nephew just graduated from high school. He grew up w me. He was in my sister's belly when I was only 10. By 11 he popped out. And then my sister went off to college and it was just us 2 kids at home. Sometimes it tormented me when his toys littered his room. But having him around was the best thing ever. I'm the youngest, so he is the closet thing I've had to a little brother. He's taught me a lot and I'm sure he'll be teaching me more. I'm so scared. He chose the same city I went to San Diego. And is going to a school that was in my last 2 choices when it came to decision time. In the end, I chose another school, but used to wonder what it would be like if I had gone to the other school. But no doubt, he'll be in a good school, with good people, and still in California. And near some of my best friends. I'll have an excuse to visit. Cheers to boba, pizza, donuts, and a Katrina rozelle chocolate hazelnut cake. 

You should stop by Temescal Alley

Temescal alley. 2 little alleys with cute shops, donuts, and coffee. There's a shop to buy succulents, aromatherapy stuff, vintage jewelry, a men's shop, a leather good shop, and even a barber shop.