January 30, 2015

Berkeley: Perdition Smokehouse (CLOSED); restaurant review

CLOSED  2050 University Ave., downtown, (510) 900-5858.  L W-Sun, D daily; $$.  No reservations. 

Woodsy and dark, Perdition Smokehouse specializes in authentic Texas-style barbecue.  California asserts itself with ingredients from humane family farms that don’t use hormones or antibiotics.  The interior features roomy wood booths and communal high tables in a wide-open room.  In the back, an outdoor beer garden with picnic tables is pleasant in good weather and entertains with a movie running silently on a wall.  Diners enter the order line queue past informal “walls” of wood logs stacked for use.  ‘Que is ordered at one counter and beer at another (more than 40 American craft beers are on tap).  Service is attentive and friendly.  Portions are large but the menu is short:  smoked meats (brisket, pork shoulder, hot links, St. Louis pork ribs, and chicken) and sides (meaty cowboy beans, greens, mac & cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, and broccoli salad).  A few other miscellaneous items and sweets round things out.  You can order meats by the pound or by the plate, which includes two sides, bread, and housemade sweet pickles.  A variety of sauces are on the table, including a tasty spicy sauce (my fave) and a South Carolina mustard sauce.  I enjoyed my plate of tender, meaty ribs and cowboy beans but needed to spice up the bland potato salad.  It went well with a Magnolia Blue Bell Bitter.  My dining companion wasn’t as happy with his chicken, which he considered too dry, or coleslaw, which was pink.

interior of Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California
interior of Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California


ribs plate at Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California
ribs plate at Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California


chicken plate at Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California
chicken plate at Perdition Smokehouse in Berkeley, California


More things to do in Berkeley.

Way more things to do in Berkeley. 

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


January 28, 2015

Auburn: Awful Annie’s (CLOSED); restaurant review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

Awful Annie’s  

CLOSED.  160 Sacramento St., in Historic Old Town, (530) 888-9857.  B-L-D daily; $-$$.  Reservations for 5+. 

Everything about Awful Annie’s restaurant is appealing--the lace-covered windows, the large outdoor deck with tables covered in cheery blue-and-white-checked plastic tablecloths, the all-day breakfast menu that includes omelettes and scrambles galore and more.  The kitchen is famous for blackberry and cream cheese-stuffed French toast and Grandma’s bread pudding with brandy sauce, and the lunch menu includes scads of salads, sandwiches, and burgers.  My fave is the BLT on sourdough, but I have my eye on the grilled pastrami Rueben made with lean meat, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and thousand-island dressing on swirled rye bread.  Truth be told, Annie’s is awful good.

porch at Awful Annie's restaurant in Auburn, California
porch at Awful Annie's restaurant in Auburn, California


BLTA sandwich at Awful Annie's restaurant in Auburn, California
BLTA sandwich at Awful Annie's restaurant in Auburn, California



More things to do in Auburn.

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More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

January 26, 2015

Nevada City: Two Room Inn; hotel review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Two Room Inn  

431 Broad St., (415) 891-9022.  Hot tub.  No pets. 

Originally a miner’s cabin built in the 1880s, the colorful Two Room Inn cottage was for a while known as the Teddy Bear Castle and has been embellished upon through the years.  It features stained-glass windows, a fireplace built with vintage cobblestones from San Francisco, and an upstairs bedroom with a vaulted pine ceiling and cedar walls.  A balcony provides a great view out over Broad Street.  It sleeps up to four adults and two children.

Two Room Inn in Nevada City, California
Two Room Inn in Nevada City, California


More things to do in Nevada City.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

January 22, 2015

San Francisco: Great Eastern; restaurant review

San Francisco

Great Eastern  

649 Jackson St./Grant, (415) 986-2500.  B-L-D daily; dim sum daily 10-3; $.

dining room at Great Eastern restaurant in San Francisco
dining room at Great Eastern restaurant in San Francisco


Though small, the atmospheric Great Eastern located in the heart of Chinatown features an open room with mostly large round tables covered with white tablecloths.  A smaller room downstairs handles overflow.  A wall of tanks filled with live fish is in the back, verifying the restaurant’s reputation for serving one of Chinatown’s most extensive seafood selections.  Everything is cooked to order, so fried dishes arrive hot from the wok.  A laminated picture menu helps you select from the extensive dim sum options.  Dim sum items are mostly made to order, so no carts and few trays circulate.

deep-fried taro balls at Great Eastern restaurant in San Francisco
deep-fried taro balls


My favorites are the delicate and crunchy cilantro shrimp dumplings and the exquisite deep-friend taro balls.  In the evening if you have five to eight people in your group, consider ordering a set family-style dinner or a more elaborate banquet-style dinner--the crab version is reputedly particularly good.  President Obama stopped here for a take-out assortment of dumplings in 2012, and that certainly helped establish the restaurant’s popularity. 



More dim sum photos.

More Chinatown.

More things to do in San Francisco

Way more things to do in San Francisco.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.
 

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

January 20, 2015

Nevada City: The Art Studio; hotel review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

The Art Studio  

2-min. drive or 15-minute walk from town; rent through airbnb.com.  Off-street parking is provided.  

entrance to The Art Studio in Nevada City, California
entrance to The Art Studio in Nevada City, California


Designed by an artist to rejuvenate your spirit, this retreat is located in a quiet residential area and opens to a private grassy yard with artsy touches.  It is perfect for a single guest  or for a weekend stay for a couple. Bright colors and plenty of art is factored into The Art Studio's decor--even art-related videos are provided.  This studio apartment has a fully-equipped small kitchen with all the appliances, including a cute mini dishwasher, and the up-to-date bathroom features a colorfully-tiled shower.  A nearby historical 1800s pioneer cemetery is the perfect spot for a leisurely walk.  

dining area at The Art Studio in Nevada City, California
dining area at The Art Studio in Nevada City, California


bed nook at The Art Studio in Nevada City, California
bed nook at The Art Studio in Nevada City, California


fence decorated with recycled bottle caps at The Art Studio in Nevada City, California
fence decorated with recycled bottle caps at The Art Studio
in Nevada City, California


More things to do in Nevada City.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2021 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
updated 7-31-2021

January 16, 2015

Berkeley: Townie (CLOSED); restaurant review

80 North

Townie  

CLOSED  1799 University Ave./Grant St., (510) 356-4903.  D Tu-Sun, Sat-Sun Br.  Free parking in rear.

bar at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California
bar at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California


The immense open dining room at Townie features large windows to the street, a cozy original brick wall behind the bar, a black open-rafter ceiling, a few wood booths and other features made from reclaimed wood, and a concrete floor.  A sea of tables and chairs populate the center of the room.  The Sunday morning I was here for brunch, diners were sparse and the room was quiet—it felt like the room itself was having a own hangover from the night before.  Fortunately, music faves from the ‘50s and ’60s—“Runaround Sue,” “Walk like a Man”--perked things up.  The seasonal menu featuring New American cuisine small plates is short but sweet and makes use of spectacular seasonal ingredients.

eggs Benedict at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California
eggs Benedict at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California


I loved my eggs Benedict even though it was served on a very small plate with no garnish.  The large chunk of flavorful braised pork belly and the perfectly puffed eggs were delicious, and I downed them with an Irish Coffee made with a strong pour of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

bacon & eggs at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California
bacon & eggs at Townie restaurant in Berkeley, California


My dining partner opted for eggs over easy, which were served with pillows of crispy hash browns, bacon, and very good sourdough toast with raspberry jam.  He drank a colorful fresh-orange Mimosa (grapefruit is also an option).  We were tempted to try the chia pudding because it is something we make at home, but the day pulled at us to move on.  Dinner brings on miyagi oysters from Marin, potato croquettes with serrano ham and manchego, and a Townie burger with hot sauce aioli.  Sometimes you might also find a Vietnamese banh mi pork belly sandwich, mussels, or hanger steak.  Fresh cocktails are whipped up behind a long bar with stool seating.  Live jazz is scheduled on the first Sunday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m.  Townie is a work in progress.  Changes are coming. 


More things to do in Berkeley.

Way more things to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

January 14, 2015

Nevada City: Broad Street Bistro & Gallery; restaurant review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Broad Street Bistro & Gallery  

426 Broad St., (530) 265-4204.  Daily 7am-6pm. 

patio at Broad Street Bistro in Nevada City, California
patio at Broad Street Bistro in Nevada City, California


You’ll find a small menu listed on a board above the order counter at Broad Street Bistro.  It includes simple items such as bagels, sandwiches, salads, and baked goods, as well as espressos, but the smoothies are only wannabees (they are way too thin).  Still, it makes a great place for a light meal or snack.  You can choose a seat in the cozy inside where local art decorates the walls, or in good weather out on the shady patio—as I did.

January 12, 2015

Nevada City: Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co.; restaurant review

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co.  

211 Commercial St., (530) 470-8333.  Opens 7am; $$. 

It’s all about the yeast here.  In addition to brewing their own beer on premises in a 7-barrel brewhouse, all the bread at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. is baked on site—it’s sourdough Saturday through Thursday, and challah on Fridays.  

interior of Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California
interior of Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California


pizza at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California
pizza at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California


Order at the counter.  The simple menu offers several soups—I enjoyed a tasty one with small white beans and kale—salads, and an array of sourdough thin-crust pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven.  Jams, condiments, processed meats such as sausage, and some cheeses are made in house.

salad at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California
salad at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California


Ingredients are organic and locally sourced—I enjoyed a colorful house salad that was sprinkled with kernels from a pomegranate harvested from the owners’ own garden.  The restaurant is famous for their pastries, cakes, pies, and cookies, and the hot chocolate and loose-leaf teas are pretty good too, so don’t miss out!  

beer menu at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California
beer menu at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California


My beer choice was a Malakoff Maibock, described as a “German pale Bock lager-style that is traditionally brewed for release in May (Mai).  Lighter than a traditional German Bock, our Maibock has a strong backbone of Pilsner and Munich malts to give it a nice malty body, and is crisply balanced by Perle and Tettnang hops.  Clean and delicious, it is one of the Brewer’s favorite styles.”  It was quite satisfying.  I have also enjoyed the Bavarian Rhapsody Pilsner.  The large, open dining space with high ceilings is a transformed warehouse that once stored dynamite.  Now it has a dynamite atmosphere, where everyone is busy having a good time.  Patio seating is prime on hot nights.  

pizza and beer on the patio at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co. in Nevada City, California
pizza and beer on the patio at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co.
in Nevada City, California


More about the beer at Three Forks Bakery and Brewing Co.: 



January 9, 2015

Nevada City: Miners Foundry Cultural Center; things to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country

Miners Foundry Cultural Center  

325 Spring St., (530) 265-5040. 

This building dates back to 1856, when the foundry here made metal parts for local mines.

Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City, California
Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City, California


small Pelton Wheel at Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City, California
small Pelton Wheel at Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City, California


In 1879, it made the world’s first Pelton Wheel--a local invention that revolutionized hydroelectric power production.  The foundry ceased operation in 1965.  A self-guided tour of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center explains many historical artifact displays and exhibits.  Today this structure is used as a venue for special events, which are scheduled regularly.


More things to do in Nevada City.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


January 7, 2015

Nevada City: Nevada Theatre; this to do

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

Nevada Theatre  

401 Broad St., (530) 265-6161.  Schedule & ticket prices vary. 

Opened in September of 1865 and lectured in twice by Mark Twain (Jack London and Motley Crue have also appeared here), the Nevada Theatre is the oldest original-use theater building in California.  It is refurbished to appear as it did when it first opened and is used year-round for plays, concerts, films, and other performing arts events.

historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City, California
historic Nevada Theatre in Nevada City, California


More things to do in Nevada City.

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image ©1983 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

January 5, 2015

Introduction to Nevada City

Highway 49--Gold Rush Country 

Introduction to Nevada City


Reputed to be the best privately preserved and restored small city in the state, this picturesque mining town is also said to contain residential and commercial buildings representative of all the major 19th-century architectural styles.

house at top of Broad Street in Nevada City, California
house at top of Broad Street in Nevada City, California


Scenically situated on seven hills, Nevada City boasts a particularly fine assortment of lovely gingerbread-style Victorian homes, and the entire downtown district is on the National Register of Historic Places.  In addition, it is home to more artists per capita than any other California county, and these talented people attract and present themselves in high quality theater and music.  Events at the fairgrounds are doubly worth attending, because it is considered the most beautiful fairgrounds in California.  It is interesting to note that in Spanish “nevada” means “snow-covered.”


Visitor Information

Nevada City Chamber of Commerce  

132 Main St., (800) 655-NJOY, (530) 265-2692.



More things to do in Nevada City.

More things to do in Gold Rush Country.
 
More ideas for exploring Northern California.

image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

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