Pumpkin Ramen - Ramen Halu San Jose, CA

It's that time of year again. PUMPKIN EVERYTHING! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It drives me crazy! I'm not one of those people that enjoy the fall flavors of pumpkin. Actually I can't stand it. Even worse is that everyone just associates pumpkin with actual pumpkin spice. Which is a concoction of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. I also learned that canned pumpkin isn't actually the Jack o' Lantern pumpkin we think it is. It's actually Kabocha squash (Japanese Pumpkin), or a variety of other winter squashes pureed together an canned. My guess is that if you were to see a mixed spice latte or a slice of squash pie on the menu, people wouldn't buy it. It must be a marketing ploy.
 
Well, there is actually one pumpkin indulgence that I crave every Fall season. Ramen Halu of San Jose, CA has a tasty pumpkin ramen that they make every October through Thanksgiving. This twist on traditional ramen keeps my soup cravings going through the year satisfied. Ramen Halu creates this soup in their own way by adding a puree of Kabocha squash to there rich house made pork broth. This adds color and a sweetness to the broth that is already amazing. To top off the soup they add thin sliced fried pieces of Kabocha squash, corn, and finely grated parmesan cheese. Oh, and of coarse the center piece is a perfectly cooked egg.
 
Yes! I said parmesan in Japanese ramen!!! I have never heard of any place topping ramen with it before. To be honest I love to top all my soups at home with parmesan. So why not? Don't hate on it, until you try it...

              
Pictures Courtesy of Richard Park Photography  

Falafelove... My falafel journey.

Every so often I get cravings for certain foods. For the last 20 years I have been going to Falafel's Drive In, in San Jose, CA to satisfy two of my craving outbursts: A fresh falafel sandwich and a banana milkshake. To me, it doesn't get much better than that. First of all, I'm a sucker for a good banana milkshake. And this milkshake, by any means, isn't the greatest I've ever had...but it definitely hits the spot. Though I have been going here for a majority of my life, it was just recently I found out that this legendary spot was actually called "Falafel's" not "Falafel" Drive In. This just goes to show that my eyes are not on the establishment's sign, but on the food I find.

However, this posting isn't about shakes... it's about the falafel sandwich. I would have to say that the falafel sandwich has been on a steady climb of popularity over the years. While I have journeyed to find other joints with a more satisfying falafel sandwich,  I have failed to find ONE that was worth talking about.

Until now...

Falafel Stop in Sunnyvale, CA is my new 'go-to' spot. It has a more tasteful, layered sandwich. The toppings and pita bread are by far more delicious. To me the actual falafel balls are vastly different from each other, but my palate can appreciate each approach.  For me the difference between the two sandwiches is quite obvious. Falafel's Drive In has a more simple and traditional approach while Falafel Stop creates a more complex savory sandwich.

So after nearly 20 years strong of serious falafel spot hunting, I now have two that I can regularly frequent. Both of them tend to get busy during the regular business peak hours, but have the necessary staff to move customers through the lines swiftly. Recently, I have been going to Falafel Stop more often; mostly because it's closer in proximity to where I work and live. But, whenever I start to savor over that banana milk shake I'm missing out on, I can walk next door to Dairy Belle (which is literally, next door, to Falafel Stop) to complete my falafel experience. 

 Pictures Courtesy of Richard Park Photography

Rose International Market

A spot where one of my long time friends and I like to go to is Rose International Market. There are two locations. One in Downtown Mt. View, CA off Castro, and the other in Downtown Saratoga, CA off of Big Basin Way. Their menu consists of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. I like to order a variety of things from here, but my favorite is pictured below. I get some chicken and "koobieh" ground beef kabobs along with some grilled vegetables. This is all served on top of some fresh pieces of lavash bread to tear off and pick at your meal with. Even though both restaurants have been around for a while, I tend to like the Mt. View location a little better.

Squeeze Inn

Another hamburger posting! Hmmm... Maybe the all American burger is one of my many needed cravings. Well this burger is one of the most ridiculous cravings around. What sets this burger apart from others is the bubbling cheese skirt. They pretty much put as much cheese as bun. The handful of shredded cheese is piled on top of  a 1/3 pound beef patty then covered and steamed with chunks of ice on the flat top. The result is a crispy cheese skirt that completely overtakes everything called a "Squeeze With Cheese".  Squeeze Inn has four locations surrounding the greater Sacramento area, and has been growing steadily over the past few years since their appearance on Diners Drive-ins and Dives. The name Squeeze Inn comes from the original restaurant that was so small and popular, everyone had to squeeze in to fit. Please try with caution!!

Squeeze with Cheese

Cheese Skirt

Squeeze Inn website

Ben Frank's in Redwood City

Many say it's hard to get a good hot dog in the Bay Area. Though they are right, there are a few places around that got what I'm craving in a hot dog. Other than tasty toppings, I need that snap and bite in my dog. Even though I'm bias to the ultimate taste and bite of my Uncle's hot dog at his stand in El Dorado County,  this unusual shaped shack next to the railroad track has what I need. Ben Franks has been serving up decent dogs to Redwood City locals for years. Definitely satisfies my caving every once in a while!

Ben Frank's- 491 El Camino Real Redwood City corner of Whipple Ave.

Photos courtesy of Richard Park Photography

In-N-Out Burger Vs. Five Guys Burgers and Fries

In-N-Out

Five Guys

Pro's of In-N-Out Burger:

Fresh ingredients

Fresh cut fries

Cheaper menu items ($2.25 for single, $3.25 for comparable burger)

Open until 1:30AM on Weekends

Thousand Island Sauce (if you care for it)

Con's of In-N-Out Burger:

Not too many topping choices

Smaller size overall burger

Pro's of Five Guys:

Fresh ingredients

Fresh cut fries cooked in peanut oil

Good size single patty burger

Unlimited burger combinations (endless toppings)

Cajun fries/ free peanuts

Con's of Five Guys:

Closed at 10 PM

Not too many locations yet

Overall consensus:

To me both burgers are delicious, but there are two major differences.

#1- Five guys have all these amazing toppings. But in the same sense you can over do it with everything. In-N-Out has their secret menu, but it's really not that special.

#2- If you are on a budget, or crave a tasty burger past 10 PM, go for In-N-Out. Until Five Guys is respectfully spread out across main roads and freeway exits in California, their access is limited. 

In-N-Out

Five Guys

Photos courtesy of Richard Park Photography
  
I would like to know your opinion on these burger joints! Please share!