Cheese Steak Shop

King of Philly & Twister Fries



Oh how I love the Cheese Steak Shop, Let me count the ways. First, peppers, Rolls and Tastykakes are special ordered (from Philadelphia) to create a "legit Philly" sammich experience. Second, there cheese steaks are not made of the best ingredients, their made of the *right* ingredients. Third, you can inhale the holiest and mightiest cheese steaks without the trip to Philly! The soft Italian rolls are packing some flavorful beef, grilled onions, hot cherry peppers, sweet bell peppers and your choice of white American cheese or provolone. I recommend the king of Philly (ten inch classic with 50% more meat and cheese) with a side or two of cheese sauce. There hot meat rockets range in sizes from seven to fifteen inches, if you decide to attempt the fifteen inch calorie bomb, make sure Dr. Pepper is there so you don’t slip into a food coma. I’ve had a ginormous food crush on the Cheese Steak Shops be-yoo-dee-full sammiches for over a decade and the long distance thing just wasn’t working, so I was ecstatic when they finally moved to Santa Rosa! As they say in Philly...... Jeet yet? Ya goddago get a jeez take sammich there the best eva. Period!

Interior of the Shop
cheesesteakshop.com

Pupusaria Salvadorena

Pupusa de Chicharron

You might be asking “What is served at a pupuseria”? If you said poop then you obviously need to get schooled. For those unaware a pupusa is a traditional El Salvadorian dish. It is a thick, hand-made tortilla (made using masa de maz, a maize flour dough) that is stuffed with cheese, and/or pork, chicken, refried beans, squash, and loroco (a vine flowered bud from Central America). Pupusas are the hamburgers of El Salvador, the dish that defines the countries cuisine. Pupusas are typically served with curtido (lightly fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies & vinegar) and a watery tomato salsa. A pupusa isn’t a pupusa, however, until you cover it with salsa roja and vinegary slaw.  Appearance wise, pupusaria salvadorena looks like a ghetto greasy hole in the wall but luckily I go for the food and not the decor. When I go to the pupusaria, I usually order food from the “Everyday, Anytime” portion of the menu.  Some of the things I suggest are the pupusa de chicharron y frijole, tamal de pollo, tamal de elote con crema and the pasteles de pollo con papa. Don’t fear the espanol, they have English translations on the menu too. The pupusaria also offers a Salvadorian version of the horchata. Their version is nuttier with a hint of chocolate. This horchata really compliments the restaurants amazing food. Everything on this menu is filling so be prepared to overindulge yourself. This pupusaria is definitely authentico y muy delicioso and the food will always scream “EAT ME B!*$#"!!!!!

Dining Room

Open everday from 9am-9pm
707-544-3141
1403 maple ave santa rosa, ca, 95404

*Across the street from the fair in the 7/11 shopping center!

Roach Coach Reviews!

Delicias Elenita is my favorite four wheel muncheria. This late night tortilla twister does not rely on cheap carbs to impregnate their beautifully flavored all meat wonders and as a result other barrio wagons can’t compare to this meat packing lorry! The burritos are huge and don’t fall apart, meaning the amigos in the wagon know how to roll fatty’s that would make Cheech and Chong choke. Delicias Elenita bangs out “palate tickling” tacos and “muy bueno” sopitos. The location may seem a little sketchy, but all I have witnessed is some hungry people indulging on Mexican mouth pleasure. This taco truck is popular with the gringos and amigos so it can get a little chaotic on the weekends. Next time you crave some fresh authentic Mexican food I hope you will go drop a couple pesos at Delicias Elenita.

Sebastopol Rd & West Ave, Santa Rosa

P/30

Chicke & Waffles

P/30 is an “upscale” yet “homey” roadhouse restaurant serving traditional American eats (like mom would make if only she went to cooking school). This swanky little shack used to be a brothel in the seventies, unfortunately now you can only pleasure yourself with a skimpy plate of comfort food served in a pretentious manner. I ordered all five of their starters which were Kennebec Sea Salt Fries, P/30 Lettuces, (stick-to-your-ribs & hips) Mac N Cheese, Grilled Flatbread Pizza and Something From-The-Garden which turned out to be a tomato and cucumber salad, I thought the use of fresh and local ingredients was a nice touch but the lack of creativity befuddled me. I really wanted to love the entrees, but the burger was not worthy of a big bite and the chicken and waffles were shadowed by the tiny ramekin of sweet strawberry jam, OMG P/30 should sell that sweet  goodness so I can bathe in it. Last but certainly not least the ‘Smores (some more), finicky eaters beware these tasty treats are a hot mess. Overall P/30 is happy to take all your dough and leave you with sticky fingers and shit on your face, if you are ok with that I recommend you give them a visit! Oh I almost forgot, what is the meaning of the name "you ask"? P is for Patrick (Owner/Chef) & 30 is his age, well 31 now. 

P/30

http://www.restaurantp30.com/

Gott's Roadside "Tray Gourmet" Review

Double CheeseBurger & Fried Green Tomato B.L.T.

Gott’s Roadside “Tray Gourmet” Is a meat haven offering anything you can imagine between a bun “overflowing” with fresh and inventive toppings, plus enticing garlic fries and sinful milkshakes; made with Double Rainbow ice cream. The patties are made with fresh ground eco friendly beef purchased from family-owned farms and ranches. This patty purveyor offers plenty of bottle options to keep you lubricated, I recommend that you BYOB because the corkage fee is just a buck. Gott’s is very popular with the foo foo wine sniffers, so wallet watchers should expect to pay sit down prices. The line is so long you might starve to death before you can indulge your taste buds with classic handmade American food. The grassy outdoor seating instantly turns your visit to Gott’s into a fun flavorful picnic. If you’re a burger biter you will “have a cow” about this retro roadside diner.

Professor Big Bite!

gottsroadside.com

El Coqui Puerto Rican Restaurant Review

El Coqui (the small tree frog) is a cool Puerto Rican restaurant located in the heart of down town Santa Rosa. I approached El Coqui and had this weird feeling that I was an insect getting hypnotized by their bright neon lights. Once inside I snapped out of the trance and found myself in an immaculate restaurant with spotless tables and polished floors. The restaurant is decked out in a hip island style theme. Before I sat down I ordered really sexy sangria, she was my date for the night. After I studied the menu for a few minutes I gave up and told my waiter to bring me the most authentic Puerto Rican menu items. First he brought out Empanadillas de Res (turnover filled with ground beef, olives and raisins). I felt kind of gross after consuming this large fried meat pocket, but snaps it was good! Second was the Canoas Con Carne Molida (whole plantain stuffed with ground beef & topped with cheese,). This plantain canoe of greasy beef was boring and unseasoned, the red beans and rice were delish and the avocado salad was a fresh addition to a somewhat boring dish. Finally I had the Flan de Coco (coconut flan). This standard island flavor was tasty but the flan was dense. I would recommend El Coqui because the food was unique and somewhat exotic. Oh yeah and they sell a beautiful sangria. If you decide to try El Coqui keep in mind they have happy hour Monday-Friday three to six pm, half off appetizers and three dollar draft beers!

Crystal's Corner

Crystal’s Corner is a delightful little café that offers a delectable assortment of mouth watering Doughnuts and cooks up some scrumptious breakfast and lunch foods. There doughnuts are a sugary dream of doughy goodness that will have you drooling like Homer Simpson. They do a little bit of everything ranging from juicy bacon cheeseburgers to the best grease filled tacos in town. I recommend the grilled chicken or teriyaki steak sandwiches. Their three dollar breakfast is a steal; two eggs, bacon, hash brown and toast, yum! Crystal’s Corner isn’t exactly first date material, but the day after you spend all your green going to some pretentious restaurant and bar, Crystal’s will be happy to provide you with the best remedy for your hangover. This place is great for the whole family or for people who want to enjoy a cup of coffee and a doughnut while reading the daily news or watching it on a large flat screen TV. Over the years I have become friends with the wonderful family who runs Crystal’s Corner. Walking through the door brings back memories of great food and friends. I love to support friendly local family owned establishments because they appreciate the business and show it through their tasty food. Next time you get doughnuts give them a try. They are the best, just ask any police officer Crystal’s Corner is there main supplier!

1185 Yulupa Avenue

Santa Rosa

 (707) 545-5668

Lee's Noodle House Review

Lee's Special

Lee’s Noodle House is a small hole-in-the-wall in an unattractive little strip mall offering consistently excellent food at affordable prices. My friend recommended this little soup house because my girlfriend is addicted to soup. Lee’s was happy to support her cravings with fragrant bowls of pho (rice noodle) soup, filled to the rim with savory broth. Pho soup (pronounced Fuh soup) comes with fresh mint, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, limes, and sliced chili peppers for you to garnish with. When it comes to pho soup size definitely matters, in case you are wondering theirs is huge. If you decide to give them a chance I have some recommendations. The menu can be overwhelming with around one hundred food and drink options. For starters I would recommend the deep fried egg rolls or fresh spring rolls, moving on to entrees, The beef noodle soup #13) is a standard soup loaded with thinly shaved beef, great for the pho first timer. The #70) Lee’s special noodle soup is a fabulous chicken soup containing egg noodles instead of rice noodles. My favorite item on the menu is the Banh Mi (traditional Vietnamese sandwich). The contrasting flavors and textures of the sandwich – as well as its relativity low cost – make it a popular menu item so they occasionally sell out. If you ever wondered what durian taste like? Lee’s offers a durian shake, which is a fun fruity foul smelling drink that is only worth trying once. I highly recommend the Thai iced tea, a strongly-brewed red tea with a large dose of cream, sweet goodness! Lee’s is the fuh king best noodle house in Santa Rosa, trust me I have tried them all and just find myself going back to Lee’s. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Banh Mi

http://www.leesnoodlehous.com/

Russian River Brewing Company Review

Russian River Brewing Company is the home of Pliny the Elder, which in my opinion is the holy grail of beers, they also make some really grubbing pizzas. Let’s face it, what is better than a nice pepperoni pizza and an ice cold beer? The hot grease of the pizza is nicely washed down by the refreshing beer. Just watch out for the calories – as delicious as this mix is, it was clearly designed by Satan himself to get us all to hell faster. I find it hard to complain about RRB but I got to tell you what to expect, the beer tenders are always slammed with orders and this is when you become invisible unless you are one of the Pliny pounders or a hot chick. The cooks crank out some mouth watering pizza creations with some clever topping combinations, but I wish they took some pride in their appearances, this place makes a killing and could easily afford to suit up their cooks in the proper uniforms instead of the dirty shorts and sandal look, they remind me of a gang of scruffy pirates. The jukebox has a nice selection of music on it but they don’t change it out enough, it would be nice if they put some reggae or some beer drinking tunes on it like Bob Marley or Jamie T. Now that I have made my complaints I would like to tell you why you need to go, the beer is fucking incredible and the pizza will allow you to stomach a few more cold ones, I would also like to say that the staff is made up of some really down to earth people who work at a insanely busy brewery and the service they offer is what you should expect in this type of situation. If you haven’t gone to the River and ordered a Pliny I would have to urge you to drop in their next time your down town in Santa Rosa. Cheers!

http://www.russianriverbrewing.com/

Sazon Review

Have you ever wanted to go to South America and experience Peruvian Cuisine? I’m going to tell you about a new restaurant called Sazon (seasoning) that serves the freshest exotic ingredients right here in Santa Rosa that will leave you wondering why you didn’t hear about this wonderful flavor dispensary disguised as a modern Peruvian restaurant sooner, this place is a true secret, but if anyone knows me I’m horrible at keeping secrets and I think this restaurant is going to become very popular as long as people don’t try to keep it all for themselves. The ceviche was a fun mouth popping little flavor bomb that explodes with the freshest tongue twisting flavors I didn’t know even existed. I tried almost the whole menu in just two visits, I would encourage you to talk with Chef Pablo and ask any questions about the menu because he is very knowledgeable and friendly person, I showed some interest in his cuisine and next thing I know I’m testing items not even on the menu, now that is a true honor when a chef wants your opinion on his food creations. I always suggest bringing in a bottle of wine or even a six pack of cold beer as a show of appreciation to a chef if you know you will be coming to eat his food often, trust me they will return the favor sooner or later, plus there is nothing more rewarding In life then making someone happy. The restaurants staff presents themselves in a very professional manner and is genuinely nice. The open kitchen seats offer the guest the option to view their food being composed in a clean and organized kitchen. Sazon is the only upscale restaurant in the area which makes it a true gem. This place is awesome and I can’t say enough good things about it, so please try it and let me know how your experience was! Don’t forget to tell them I sent you!

http://www.sazonsr.com/

Why do people judge food by how much money they spend?

Why do people judge food by how much money they spend? I’m beginning to realize food doesn’t have to be expensive in order to be good; this is something that might prove to save me some mullah. I can’t stand stuck up Gucci wearing snot rags who believe they ate some extraordinary little piece of heaven and are unhappy because they wanted to pay more so they can brag to their fake foodie friends about the mouth pleasure that they just endured at some celebrity chefs restaurant who was probably five hundred miles away when he supposedly prepared a monster organ ripped from a tortured goose. Stinking rich foodie frauds love when a sparkling clean chef appears table side to gloat, if the illegal immigrant who really prepared their fatty slice of heaven came out of the inferno to the lush dining room for the thanks he or she so greatly deserves these pampered prudes would probably think they were about to be mugged. Now that I have whined about this let me tell you why I have this way of thinking, I have been to some of the greatest restaurants around and payed an arm and a leg for a weird stuffy feeling served by a drug induced robot server who served me regular food on a fancy plate in a even fancier restaurant, now if you’re ok with regular people in a normal restaurant serving more exciting tasting food on a plain old plate for less money I would say you are a regular person who doesn’t need to spend their bank account on a food trap sure to catch you in its scary web of deceit.

Do You Eat S#!%?

Why do people eat shit? This is a question with many answers, but I think we have been tricked into eating it, These mass producers of shit spend a lot of their blood money to build their attractive crap factory’s to herd in as many obese Americans that will eat stuff their dogs are not even dumb enough to eat. After we are finished shoveling micro waved deep fat fried zombie animals into our fat faces we fork over our last two cents like we are some sort of fiend that just scored a quick fix of culinary crack. I love food and it makes me wanna vomit watching people eat loads of lard then try to shrink their big ass by horking down frozen boxes of portioned meals that look like fancy feast. I have a prediction that in the near future we will evolve into some Jabba the Hut race that will except only the finest puss filled, tumor riddled, lab raised animals to feed on offered to us by none other then one of the blood sucking corporations that we line up for so eagerly just to receive a fast fix and a number of life changing diseases. Now to say I never ate a Big Mack or a chicken nugget I would be full of shit, but I have overcome my addiction of injecting my heart with MSG laced lard. Why should we support mom and pop restaurants? This question is more important then you might imagine, why give your hard earned dollars to some douche bags who spend your money to expand their chain of crap factory’s around the world. Wouldn’t you rather give that money to someone who lives in your area and will truly appreciate your interest in their cuisine that was made with the best ingredient the world has to offer LOVE? I went to culinary school and started working with some very talented chefs in a professional kitchen and started to realize how fucking awesome it is to discover new foods with exotic, exciting, or even familiar flavors, I would describe it like finding a treasure that stays so ingrained in my mind that when I’m lucky enough to taste it again it invokes a extremely vivid and sense filled memory, To say that you have never experienced this I would have to call u a fucking liar, Think about your childhood their has to be something your mother or grandmother made for you in the past that can bring back these memories just through a taste or even a smell of their soul food. I want people to be more aware of who they pay to stuff their faces and what effect it has on ourselves and the whole planet, I also wanna stress how important it is to eat local and support independently owned establishments, everyone will be happier including your gut!