Restaurant Review: Fat Cactus Grill and Bar

Pic taken from Fat Cactus Facebook page

A week ago, I went out with some gal pals from high school to check out a mexican restaurant located in San Ramon, CA called the Fat Cactus Grill and Bar. This place was literally like a minute away from my house yet I had never tried it before. We all went on Tuesday because we were drawn in by the awesome price of $2.00 tacos! (After 5:00 pm)

Once we all went in we found it was packed with people. The hostess asked us if we would like to wait for a table or sit outside. We asked how long of a wait it would be and she said 30 mins... Really? To seat 5 people inside it was a 30 minute wait?? We didn't see anyone else waiting so we said we'd sit outside. Luckily, she found us a table right in front of the door (going outside onto the patio) where we could all fit. Yay, for air conditioning!!

Outdoor patio at Fat Cactus (taken from Fat Cactus Facebook page)

So we sit down and start perusing the taco menu which has 4 tacos listed at $2 and about 15 tacos listed as $3.50, but these were specialty tacos so I was willing to pay a bit more. As soon as our waitress comes to the table and takes our drink orders, she ended up returning shortly to tell us that they didn't have any clean water glasses and were currently washing some for us, so it would be about 10 minutes until we could get water.

..... after a moments hesitation, we all simply nodded and said "ok!" When she left we kind of gave each other a look like, "They don't have ANY clean water glasses??" The place wasn't even full! I wonder what they use when it is...

We expected some chips and salsa because we saw some at the table next to us, but we had to pay $2.50 for that too. After getting our clean water finally, we ordered. Me, being the more adventurous one, decided to try the Alligator Taco and the Kangaroo Taco. Here are the results:

The lighter meat is the alligator and the dark meat on the right is kangaroo.

Alligator: A bit tough for my liking. The texture was kind of like hard, chewy, fat and the taste was a little sweet. Hard to explain, but not my favorite. The meat was almost clear looking, very strange.

Kangaroo: I did really enjoy this one. Not as tough as the alligator, it had more flavor and tenderness.

Both had a strawberry salsa on top and some lettuce. Really? No cheese, or sour cream or avocado or anything?? Nope, these were just the bare bones tacos. Meat, some salsa, and lettuce. I thought this made them extremely dry but maybe that's just me.  I ended up just eating the meat and not the tortilla, it was too dry.

Overall, the service was bad, and the food wasn't good. It was bland and dry. So not worth the trip there. I've heard their brunch is ok, but I've never tried it myself. After the tacos, I'm not sure I want to go back. If you're looking to try variety meats though, they do have a wide range. Everything from Buffalo and Ostrich, to Shark tacos were on the menu. I'm willing to bet that you could find better somewhere else however.

Stephanie, WWT

Restaurant Review: Cameron's Pub

This visit was from about a month ago, but I forgot to blog it! Anyway, me and the parents went on a weekend drive to Half Moon Bay located on the coast of California about an hour away from our house. Unfortunately, we picked the wrong day to go because it ended up raining! This weather is crazy right? As a side note, today (June 28th) it thunderstormed here... in California!

Right, so back to the restaurant review! We were heading to Duarte's, located in Pescadero, but realized there was something funky happening on the highway. Apparently, there was some rock slide and the cars were restricted to one lane for both directions of traffic. This deterred us back the way we came and we ran into Cameron's British Pub and Inn!

The pub/restaurant itself is very cool and decorated with tons of both British and American memorabilia and just about everything you could imagine. When you dine here, it is definitely mandatory to walk around and look at everything! There is a decent sized bar area, outdoor seating, a game room with pool tables, shuffleboard and arcade games, as well as a small area where they sell British items like food/candybars. There are two huge double decker buses outside (one for smoking and one for non-smoking) as well as a British style taxi-cab. The food is typical British pub grub, lots of bangers and mash and fish and chips.

London Taxi!

The immense collection of beer cans.

As for the food, I had a vegetable sandwich, which was unfortunately pretty bad. I honestly could have made it myself at home. It had a random assortment of veggies including some black olives, mushrooms, onions, and peppers slathered with some melted cheese between two slices of wheat bread. I also tried the bean salad which was actually pretty good consisting of green beans, kidney beans, and some carrots. I know they're not trying to be all gourmet about their presentation, but it wasn't anything special. 

My dad opted for a roast beef with au jus sauce type thing and he declared it to be okay. My mom ended up with the fish and chips which was very good (we all ended up trying hers).
NOTE: Next time, get the burger!!! It wasn't until after we started reading the signed pictures on the wall did we realize that the burger is clearly the star here.

Overall, experience/atmosphere-wise, Cameron's gets a 10. The place is just awesome to look at and is really quirkily decorated. The food isn't really that great, but I can't speak for the burger. If you're looking for a fun place to hang out, get a drink, or some authentic British feel, then stop by Cameron's. P.S. go check out the bathroom, the women's one is so awesome right?

Ceiling of the women's restroom. Gotta love the disco ball!

They have my favorite, Pictionary!!

Stephanie, WWT

10. Support A Government Designed and Run For All The People

#10... politics woohoo!

Basically, if your government is working hard for ALL people rather than a single interest group or "insane dictator" (yes that was in the text) then one should support it.

In cases where the government is not doing this then withdrawing one's cooperation might be the best solution because you are not directly opposing government or doing anything illegal. Fortunately in the United States, we seem to have a government that is taking into account all it's citizens.

A good suggestion that the WTH guide states is that government and how to govern should be taught earlier on in schools. Sometimes the language is intimidating to people who claim they don't like politics however it is important to be informed about the workings of our country. 

"A government cannot bleed, it cannot even smile; it is just an idea men have.  It is the individual person who is alive."

Stephanie, WWT

9. Don't Do Anything Illegal

9 down, 12 to go!

Illegal acts = those which are prohibited by official rules or law

I like one of the things expressed in this point, "ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law." In society, every member has a responsibility to know what is considered an illegal act. 

In my studies as a criminal justice student, I know there are always unfortunate instances of young adults and children that are influenced by gangs etc. and it's not always fair to hold them completely responsible. I do believe that juveniles should be given a second chance, because they're the ones that need it the most.  Many people often restrict their views of crime and legality to street crime, when  white collar crimes can have a greater impact on society. Crime is all about wanting to gain an advantage by breaking the laws, otherwise, we wouldn't have them!

It is important to resist peer pressure, no matter how much you want to fit in, or impress someone, there is no excuse or reason to commit an illegal act. "The way to happiness does not include the fear of being found out."

Stephanie, WWT

8. Do Not Murder

Point #8, these next few have to do with criminal stuff.

WTH guide starts off by distinguishing between killing and murdering. Murder is defined as:

"The unlawful killing of one (or more) human being by another, especially with malice aforethought."

Some exceptions that are stated are killing in self defense or killing animals for meat. We don't normally call this "murder."  Pretty straightforward in today's society. If you murder, you commit a crime and will be punished for it. This point is generally good to follow if you'd like to live a happy life...not in prison. lol

Stephanie, WWT

7. Seek to Live With the Truth

7 down, 24 more to go.

Certain parts of this are really confusing so I will just sum up the points as I have been doing. I think it has to deal with your beliefs and what is important and real/truthful to you. Something like that...anyway:

1) Do Not Tell Harmful Lies

(doesn't this remind you of Harry Potter? lol)
I like the explanation of this point so I'll just state it here, word for word:

"Harmful lies are the product of fear, malice and envy. They can drive people to acts of desperation. They can ruin lives. They create a kind of trap into which the teller and the target can both fall."

2) Do Not Bear False Witness

The WTH guide doesn't give more than a sentence about this, but basically, it discourages and warns against perjury, or testifying to untrue facts.

"The way to happiness lies along the road to truth"

Honesty is the best policy, right?

Stephanie, WWT

6. Set A Good Example

Point #6 from the WTH guide. 6 down, 15 more to go!

You influence many people throughout your life and the way you influence them can either be good or bad.

Basically, the point is, set a good example for others because they will respect you for it. The way this point was written was a little confusing to me, but that is mainly what I took from it.

So...yeah! You shouldn't be a hypocrite then I guess... lol

Stephanie, WWT

5. Honor and Help Your Parents

Point #5!

This point is one that I myself know that I need to take more seriously. So many times I find myself getting irritated or frustrated at something small with my parents and later I feel like it was unnecessary. All children will have disagreements about things with their parents, but it is important to always respect them.

As the WTH guide states, "One cannot overlook the fact that almost always, parents are acting from a very strong desire to do what they believe to be best for the child."

Another short and sweet point! Go tell your parents you love them :)

Stephanie, WWT

4. Love and Help Children

Point #4: A very short one, without any bullet points!

I'm not sure I really understand the spiel that is written in point #4 in the guide, it mainly talks about raising children and how to do it properly more or less in three small pages. There are steps that it lists to enable a child to live a life full of happiness, thus, doing/becoming what they love.
These steps can be modified by the following:

a) what the child can become due to inherent make-up and potential

b) what the child really wants to become

c) what one wants the child to become

d) the resources available

Like I said, I'm not sure I fully agree with their explanations, but whatever.  The guide also states that a child must be self-reliant and very moral. Having a strong network of friends also helps children.  As parents, some good advice that it suggests is:

1. try to find out what your child's problem is without crushing their own solutions
2. observe them
3. listen to what your child tells you about their life
4. let children help or they become overwhelmed with a sense of obligation (hmm... whatever)

The most important thing of course is LOVE. Love children because, "most of them have an abundance of it to return."

Stephanie, WWT

3. Don't Be Promiscuous

Point #3 - It's a short one today, but one that is important nevertheless.

1) Be Faithful To Your Sexual Partner

With all of the scandals we hear about in the news combined with the media today, it is easy to see that views of sexuality have drastically changed over the years.  My mom always remarks on how funny it is to watch early black and white television shows where parents were never seen sleeping in the same bed and instead had separate beds! Now, shows depict pretty much anything. The guide warns against feelings of guilt, jealousy, and vengeance that can result from infidelity.  Treat you partners with respect and dignity, and be honest.

Pretty straightforward right?

Stephanie, WWT

2. Be Temperate

Point #2

1) Do Not Take Harmful Drugs

The guide warns that although drugs may cause temporary feelings of happiness, they will ultimately destroy you physically. Drugs aren't healthy and if anyone you know has problems, encourage them to get help.

2) Do Not Take Alchohol To Excess

In our society today, drunk driving accidents are one of the top ten if not number one killer of people, especially young adults who aren't fully aware of how dangerous the effects of alcohol really are.  Please don't let yourself or others drive while intoxicated or even after they have been drinking.  Excessive drinking is also not that beneficial to your health, with the exception maybe of wine.

Common sense people! We all learned that drugs and alcohol are dangerous in school, respect what you have learned and know about the dangerous effects of them. Don't kid yourself into thinking that "I'll be okay just this one time" because one time is all it takes.

Stephanie, WWT

1. Take Care of Yourself

Point #1 from the Way to Happiness.
Now, keep in mind that this is a COMMON SENSE guide, so even though they may seem straightforward to most, others may often overlook these things or not have enough time in the day to focus on them.

1) Get Care When You Are Ill

Basically, the guide tells us that stubborn people often don't get help when they are sick and tend to isolate themselves. I know, because I've done this before. My mom constantly stresses that I go visit my school health center if I ever feel sick, and you know what? It's true! Being healthy makes you happy! Duh.

2) Keep Your Body Clean

For the sake of everyone around you, bathe please! Washing your hands also helps keep hands germ free, I mean think about how many things you touch daily! Now, the guide and I have differing opinions about one thing. It says that it is within your right to insist that others bathe and wash their hands. I'm cool with that, as long as you kind of know the person...I mean, walking up to a stranger and telling them to take a shower might not always be the best idea :P

3) Preserve Your Teeth

I really would love to advocate this message to everyone out there. I brush two times a day, in the morning and at night, and I also floss religiously EVERY day... yes I know, I'm crazy, but it makes me feel better! I know if I didn't floss for a day, I would feel dirty. Try your best at it people because it will help prevent gum disease and bad breath too!

4) Eat Properly

This is a hugely important message for our society right now. We are facing an obesity epidemic where many people are saying that the generation of kids who are 7-8 years old right now, will be the first generation to die younger than their parents because of diet and health related issues. Nourish your body and limit processed, packaged, junk and fast foods! It's okay to endulge every once in a while, but don't forget the importance of fruits, veggies, and whole grains. You will also have more energy during the day which will make you feel better :)

5) Get Rest

Another important point. Our society is filled with hardworking people that rarely slow down and take a break to relax.  I know many people in my family who have stress problems, that then lead to sleeping problems. Not only does getting enough sleep help you, but taking time out of your day to enjoy something that you love can also help reduce stress. Meditation and breathing techniques may sound corny, but they can really help to relax the body after a long day.


This first point seems easy enough to follow right? See, not too bad, just some life goals that we might not emphasize enough in our routines. Take some time to evaluate your health, slow down, and nourish your body!

Stephanie, WWT

The Way to Happiness: A common sense guide to better living

A while ago I was exploring different philosophies and religions and came across a publication titled The Way to Happiness on a Scientology website. IN NO WAY am I claiming to be a scientologist or anything! I decided to request my free guide to see what it was all about. What I found, was a guide that could appeal to everyone, that does not preach one religion, nor is associated with a Scientology doctrine.

In order to prove to you that I am not extreme, radical, or crazy in any way, here is the explanation taken from the back of the booklet:

"This may be the first nonreligious moral code based wholly on common sense. It was written by L. Ron Hubbard as an individual work and is not part of any religious doctrine."

Yes, it was written by Hubbard, the scientologist guy, but when I read the guide, I found bits and pieces of wisdom that can be helpful to anyone, no matter what you believe in.
I've decided to share from each point, the important things that I took away from the booklet, in the hopes that others might find some knowledge as well.

I will update posts with each main point described and my favorite parts of them in the weeks/months to come. I hope you will enjoy them and take away something meaningful. Then maybe we can all add a little more happiness into our lives :)

Stephanie, WWT

Boboquivari's Restaurant Review

For Father's Day, my mom and I surprised my dad by taking him to Boboquivari's, more commonly known simply as Bobo's. Located on Lombard Street in San Francisco, between Van Ness and Franklin, Bobo's is a mardi gras/venetian style restaurant that serves steak and crab dishes. They are most well known however, for their bone-in filet mignon, which is aged 4 - 6 weeks.

bad pic taken out of the back of my car :P

Our server, a wonderful man with a French accent gave us a spiel about the aging process which attracts many people to the restaurant, 99% of which order the bone-in filet. He assured us that if you go to Bobo's and do NOT try the bone-in, it is equivalent to "going to Disneyland and not seeing Mickey Mouse." Alright, so both my parents ordered the bone-in while I promised the waiter that I would eagerly have a bite of it.


Our spread of food, or what's left of it!

Along with the steaks we also tried the following:
~Apple, Walnut, Cranberry Salad with blue cheese and a raspberry vinaigrette (sorry no pic!)
The salad was very good, but in my opinion, was loaded with dressing.

~Toybox Tomatoes with Burrata (top middle)
Came with mini croutons and avocado mixed with the tomatoes. The burrata, like a mozzerella cheese was served in a small dish for dipping.

~Twice Baked Potato (bottom left)
Topped with a cheesy crust. The potato itself was very creamy and loaded with chives for a burst of flavor.

~Baked Yams with Brown Sugar (bottom right)
The yams were alright, but pretty much standard. A nice alternative to a baked potato.

~Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta and Cheese (bottom middle)
This was our favorite hands down. We all enjoyed the brussels sprouts which were drenched in an olive oil and topped with pancetta pieces and a sharp white cheese. Fantastic.

And if that's not enough, they bring you a complimentary olive loaf, topped with olive pieces and garlic. The bread is actually already drizzled with olive oil on the inside so you don't need anything on it!

I have to say, the food was fantastic and we all had stomach pains from eating too much! Of course, that didn't stop me from ordering dessert! The three of us split the Chocolate Bomb! It was a chocolate mousse with a raspberry coulee and on the inside was a sort of chocolate cake with a chocolate fudge topping. Yum!

I would definitely recommend Bobo's to someone who enjoys a great steak. None of us tried the crab, but I'm willing to bet that it is magnificent as well. Word of warning, don't order too much food!
The decor in the restaurant was also very nice. We were a bit apprehensive at first after hearing some reviews that there were clowns on the walls, but overall, the theme felt more Venetian to me.

2nd floor dining room

1st floor dining room

I would definitely return to Bobo's in the future to possibly try a different dish. Their menu is sort of limited if you don't fancy a steak or crab though. There is a sunfish dish, but not really any chicken or pork alternatives. In the end, we left with our leftovers, our stomachs full to the brim and satisfied with rich food.

Stephanie, WWT

Summer Sweets

So lately I have been craving sweets! But not just any sweets, something out of the ordinary. So far, this summer has brought many opportunities to try different things for me. I'll share with you just some of the cool things I've discovered.

Salt Water Taffy from Monterey
I'm never really someone who craves taffy, it just isn't my candy of choice, but somehow, whenever you're on the pier, or wharf, or coast, salt water taffy just sounds amazing, right?? Anyway, I decided to pick some up because the flavors were so cool! Little did I know my candy stash (of about maybe 20 - 30 pieces) would cost $7.00! It was well worth it though and I was able to share with friends and family.

From left to right: Eggnog, Cupcake, Pumpkin Pie, and Peanut Butter and Jelly (with real peanut butter and jelly in the middle!!)

The rest of my candy stash! Other flavors included Banana Split, Neopolitain, Blueberry Lemonade, Caramel Apple, Pina Colada, Huckleberry, Apple Cinnamon, Lemon Lime, and many others.

Verdict: My favorites were the Maple and Rum flavors. They were truly delicious!

Chocolate Liqueur Bottles by Anthon Berg

I just had to try these! I found an old box of them in my aunt and uncle's cabinet from like Christmas and we all decided to sample them. They each contain a small amount of liqueur in a milk chocolate bottle casing. It was fun to snack and try each flavor, but we all ended up biting off the top of the bottle and sucking out the inside flavoring!

8 different Liqueurs and 64 per box

Jack Daniels, Cointreau, Grand Marnier

The Danzka CranberryRaz Vodka

Verdict: My favorite was the Danzka CranberryRaz Vodka. It was sweet, but not overpoweringly so. I'd say the strongest were the tequila gold and the Galliano. Not a big fan of whisky so I didn't really love those.

Chocolate Frog from Harry Potter

I went to the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Discovery Museum in NY this past April and was fortunate enough to pick up a couple of chocolate frogs! I was all over these as an avid Harry Potter fan, and would have bought more had they not been $5 a piece. Yeah... I spent $10 on two chocolate frogs, but it was worth it right? Plus, I got the potter family on a famous witch or wizard card!

Chocolate Frog, fits about in the palm of your hand

Verdict: It was okay I guess? Just really a milk chocolate piece with crunchies in it, like a crunch bar...only in the shape of a frog. 

Manju from Shuei-Do in San Jose
Ok, so being half-Japanese I grew up with an American family who had some knowledge of Japanese customs, food, and culture, but wasn't traditional in practicing it. One of the treats we all enjoy however is Manju, a mochi-like gummy sweet blob filled with smashed or whole Azuki (red bean) or lima (white bean). Shuei-Do is really the only Manju shop that I know of around my area, located in San Jose's Japantown. There is nothing better than fresh manju in my opinion, and it brings back a bit of nostalgia whenever I get to have it :)

Outside the manju shop, some tourists are looking at the shaved ice menu

What's left of our manju selection!

The wafer cookie with red beans (Azuki). I think this one is called Monaka.

Pink manju with smashed lima bean paste, called Tsubu I think.

Verdict: I've pretty much tried all of the different kinds of manju and my favorites have to be the wafer one (Monaka) the pink smashed lima bean, and the green red bean manju.

That's it for now, but I'll have more sweet treats posts coming! And a spotlight on a bday cake I just made :)

Stephanie, WWT

Sweet Treats and More in Chelsea!

So being the food lover that I am, I had to seek out Chelsea Market in NY. After some confusing subway rides and me hoping that I was going in the right direction I finally made it!

When I first walked in I found the food network sponsored James Beard Foundation section where they had free samples of cakes and cookies as well as a restaurant and a schedule of planned activities. I signed up for a raffle and actually won a food network thermos!! I was so excited I never win anything!

So after I won my little green thermos, I was on my way exploring the market. I ended up crashing a food tour (oops). I thought this guy was just giving an informational talk about one of the bakeries so I stopped to listen. After he was done he informed me that "this is a private food tour." I was so embarassed, so I went to seek out some sweets!

The spread of cupcakes at Eleni's

Aren't these NY cookies adorable?

Shoe Cake!

In case you can't find your way

After stopping to look everywhere including some awesome kitchen stores I was off to navigate through the masses of people again.

Sampling different olive oil and balsamic flavors

Try these at the Filling Station

Freshly baked Easter bread baskets

With real eggs inside!

Then, I unexpectedly came across a Prive designer sale! I tried on some clothes and ended up getting a Free People top for only $20! It was so fun and a great experience, although I wasn't used to trying on clothes in a huge dressing room in front of other people, but I quickly got over that.

Overall, I had a great time at the market and hope to go back someday and eat at the restaurant named after its famous iron chef, Morimoto. Foodies will enjoy the market because it has something for everyone, from soups and sandwiches, to gelato and cupcakes, you're sure to find something that will fit your needs.  There is also an impressive kitchen supply store there too. If you're in New York and are in the area, I would say the market is worth checking out, but not a necessity.

And... when I got back from my long day I came home to my hostel to find a nice present from a friend I had met from the Fat Witch Bakery, which has a location in Chelsea Market. They specialize in brownies and bars.

Thank you Chris!

Next stop on my food tour through NY...Eataly! Stay tuned!

Stephanie, WWT

Wafels and Dinges, huh??

Don't let the name confuse you! Wafels and Dinges is a delicious Belgian Waffle Food Truck located in various places throughout each week in New York!

I scouted it's location out beforehand and headed over to the Times Square area to find it. Hoping my directions were right, i was delighted to spot the big, bold, yellow truck with surprisingly, no line!! I just walked straight up, had a chat with the super friendly guys making fresh waffles and ordered.

The menu is a little intimidating at first and they have two main types of waffles, the Liege, and the Brussels.  From there, you can decide upon different variations, create your own with multiple toppings, or try "de Throwdown Wafel" made famous by Bobby Flay's Throwdown competition. 

I was feeling more on the savory side because I hadn't eaten any breakfast, so I opted for "de Bacon Wafel," a nice, crunchy Brussels waffle with bacon pieces baked inside of the waffle, topped with butter, powdered sugar, and my favorite topping of all...maple syrup!!

My bacon waffle!

Overall, the waffle was AMAZING!!! The waffle itself was crispy and crunchy on the outside, but unbelievably soft, moist, and warm on the inside. It wasn't soggy or too hard, just... perfect.  The butter and maple syrup toppings weren't dangerously flooding the cardboard box it came in and were very lightly added so as not to completely soak the waffle.  It was like, breakfast perfection!  I would highly recommend trying one if you happen to see the truck on the streets of NYC. Or look up the location beforehand, I think they have multiple trucks/smaller carts that rotate around the city. 

Fresh waffles, yum!

One of their specialties is their 'spekuloos' spread, which I did not have on my waffle (I'll have to go back again and try it!).  I have had a similar spread and the best way I can describe it is a smooth buttery, gingerbread like, graham cracker, spread.  If you've ever had Biscoff/Lotus cookies, it is similar to the spread that you can get with them. Wafels and Dinges has their own authentic spekuloos which you can purchase in your own jar to put on you waffles at home!

Enjoy! And I'll have more posts coming soon. I've been super busy lately!

-Stephanie, WWT