March 18, 2013

Usagi Restaurant - San Mateo

Whenever we're in San Mateo, we stop by a rather unassuming restaurant, Usagi. It means "rabbi" in Japanese. Chef Soichi San hatched the idea of this restaurant, which features American comfort food, with Japanese and Italian flavors.

Once you walk inside, you will notice the clean and modern environment.
 




 Many families with smaller children frequent this small eatery. They like the menu, the wooden floors and the "like home" atmosphere. There's no problem from spilled food or drink, which are easily cleaned.








 My wife sampled the sausages with a curry chicken that melted in her mouth. She didn't offer me any...




She also splurged on a Hamachi and Maguro tuna salad. Note the green wasabi sauce, covering the Hamachi. Yummmm.
 

In comparison my linguini dish was very different. Smothered with clams and spiced with sliced dry pepper, I finished every last noodle and clam.


So try this restaurant, which welcomes you with a large OPEN sign on a rabbit:

Usagi
505 Second Avenue
San Mateo, CA  94401

Ph. (650) 373-2600


Note, I have no financial or other connection to this restaurant, except that it's one of my favorites.


Sent from the iPhone 5 by Wei Chong

March 14, 2013

Incongruity


Wandering about near the Martinez train tracks last week, I found this British motiffed building. Didn't make sense in an Old West town like Martinez.

But the scene present a "photo opp" for me.

The dilapidated red London Booth waited for a caller. The Union Jack boldly emblazoned itself twice on the garage door. And the English Red Crown announced petro for sale. Where was I?

Of course the street sign put everything in place: back to the future in California.

Sent from Wei's iPhone

March 11, 2013

Spanking Bright Red Fire Engines



Walking down the street in Alameda to East Ocean Restaurant a couple of weeks ago, a photo "opp" jumped out at me.

The day was crystal clear, with a bright blue sky. The sun shone from the perfect angle, photographically. And Alameda fire department decided to put out their spanking red fire trucks out on the sidewalk. In other words, the planets aligned just for me.

Couldn't help but take a few pictures of this once in a while happening.


Sent from Wei's iPhone

March 7, 2013

Another Restaurant Guessing Game



Which fast food restaurant, at which location. Hint: it's in the red & white seat covers. Where?

Ok, that was too easy. KFC/A&W on Clayton.


Sent from Wei's iPhone

Where Are the Burgers?



Another guessing game. Just where is his burger joint? The hint is this wallcovering, which is inside the restaurant on Farm Bureau Road.

Tired of guessing? Digger's.


Sent from Wei's iPhone

February 15, 2013

Nami Nami Visit


In our last visit to Nami Nami, in Mountain View, we feasted on these delectables.

It's such a relaxing and enjoyable place to visit.

Try it sometime. The restaurant is on Castro Street in the middle of downtown Mountain View.


Sent from Wei's iPhone

January 21, 2013

Sons at the Golden Gate


Same scene this past Saturday, with Michael and Danny posing in front of SF's icon. Nice picture, a day before the 49ers win for the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP.


Sent from Wei's iPhone

January 19, 2013

Visit to Gate

Golden Gate Bridge South-side

Panorama of gorgeous view on a perfect, windy afternoon. Sometimes you just hit all the elements of a good place. Too bad I didn't have my DSLR. But this iPhone 5, with its standard camera in panorama mode just does fine to capture the expansive scene.

Sent from Wei's iPhone 5

December 6, 2012

Morning View of Wynn - Las Vegas


This point of view from the Encore enhances the beauty of its sister hotel.

Too bad I had to shoot through the sheers, which appear on the left side of the picture. Too much internal reflections from the inch-thick window glass.


From Wei's iPhone