I’d been meaning to visit Koriente for some time, but somehow had never made it until last week.  During a busy Saturday of running Christmas-related errands I deliberately blocked out a few minutes while downtown to stop and investigate.  Tucked away behind the noisy bars at the eastern end of 6^th Street lies a small, quiet parking lot off of Sabine and 7^th; unexpectedly, in the shadow of I-35, a beautiful garden surrounds the lot and a small seating area on the back patio.

The first impression entering through the back door is a little disorienting; there is a lot of everything packed into the small hallway.  It’s not cluttered, though; far from it, things are clean and orderly, but there’s a lot of…everything.  The walls are covered in small mirrors, paintings, and old photographs of movie stars, flowers, trees, and scenes of locations too old or remote to identify.  Mismatched shelving and cabinets hold sundry plates, teapots, teacups, old tea canisters, and other objects, some of which seemed only for show and some for use.  The north-facing front plate glass window overlooks 7^th Street with good sunlight and ample views of the other shops and assorted Austinites about the neighborhood (the courthouse is a block in one direction; the homeless shelter in the other, providing a colorful mix of personages).

As I became accustomed to my surroundings, I realized that the order of the day was eclecticism.  The décor is a blend of objets d’art and assorted things folksy, old, new, and uncertain; Oriental accouterments sat upon shelves overlooking the same red-checkered tablecloths one might find in Italian restaurants in Boston’s North End.  The menu, too, comprises neither traditional tea house nor oriental fare; it’s rather Asian-inspired, fresh, and healthy.

Unsure how to proceed (as I had entered through the back) I set my things on a nearby table and approached the counter.  A smiling young man offered me a menu, and as I perused the fare I began to feel the pressure of thirsty patrons behind me in a newly-forming line.  Suddenly rushed, I somewhat hastily ordered a pot of Darjeeling and the Smoked Salmon Roll ($5.50).  Would I like a bowl of miso soup to go with that—on the house?  Oh, yes; yes I would.  (I later learned that soup or green tea ice cream are complimentary with any entree from 2-9:30, but at the time I was more than delighted.)

I sat back down and opened my little book to record my impressions, but before I had the lid off of my pen, my tea and soup arrived.  The Darjeeling was well-steeped in a little, colorful ceramic pot accompanied by a lovely small wooden handle-less cup.  As I poured my tea and considered my soup (I had to get up to get a spoon) I noticed Oscar Wilde regarding me languidly from his spot on the wall.  The miso was delicious, fresh and clean and quite low in salt.  Minutes later my salmon roll arrived, cut into five pieces sushi-style.  The smoked salmon is rolled in a tapioca wrapper with mixed greens, red and purple cabbage, carrots, and avocado, and served with a little container of the least salty soy sauce ever and a dollop of wasabi.  The interplay of the flavors and textures of crunchy fresh vegetables, avocado, and salmon was fantastic.  After my tea, soup, and roll, I was extremely satisfied for under ten dollars.

In addition to appetizers in roll form, they offer a dozen entrees, largely soup, rice, and noodle dishes (or a combination thereof) to which you may add chicken, avocado, egg, mushrooms, and so on.  The most expensive menu item (sans additions) tops out at $8.  All of the ingredients are fresh and homemade as well as low in sodium, cholesterol, and fat; here are also a number of gluten-free and vegan options.

The tea menu is modest but well-rounded; they offer an assortment of black and green teas, with a few whites and oolongs, rooibos, and a handful of herbal blends.  Koriente also has a selection of freshly made iced teas and offers beer, wine, and Ruta Maya coffee.

A funky, Austin-styled, family-owned, fresh, healthy, inexpensive, tea-centric restaurant?  I’ll certainly return to Koriente to try their entrees; now I know where to park instead of driving on by thinking, “Man! I have to try that place!”

Koriente Restaurant and Tea House
www.koriente.com
512-275-0852
621 East 7^th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Bob Kasenchak is a writer for Unity Teapots, specializing in cast iron tea pots and fine Asian teaware.

After asking a few people around the city, we noticed that the Bamboo Garden was one of the top choices. Normally you save the best for last, but we were getting hungry after a day of searching and really wanted to eat good food. So off to the Bamboo Garden we went. As we approached the building, we got more and more excited. It was a cute little traditional Chinese building that made us feel like we had stepped back in time. Not only was the building quaint, but the food was a-mazing. The waitress made sure that we knew the history behind the dishes that we ordered. Some of the food have origins that go back thousands of years to early imperial dynasties! Not only is the food delicious, but it is reasonably priced as well. You can get an entire Thanksgiving feast for just $16.95. We were so thoroughly pleased with the food that we ate that we decided to order dinner plates to take home. We were happy to find the Bamboo garden and look forward to going back.

The next day we were in the mood for Italian food and wanted to find an amazing Kosher restaurant that offered tantalizing pizzas, salads, and a comfortable atmosphere. Welcome to the Island Crust.  You haven’t tried pizza until you try the Island Crust. What surprised was the fact that everything they serve is homemade, from the salad dressings to the sauces and soups to the cheesecake. And let me advise you….you must try the cheesecake. We hardly thought that we could find anything better than the Bamboo Garden but the Island Crust had a totally different vibe that we loved. Oh, and did I mention that their coffee was impeccable? If you’re thinking that you will have to shell out a lot of dough for this type of experience, fret not. This restaurant has incredible prices as well.

Each day we find ourselves in another country. Today, we traveled to the Mediterranean to taste the zesty gyros, platters, and falafel at the International Food Corner. This restaurant had a great environment and once we got there we realized that not only did it serve Mediterranean food, but it also had dishes originating from Pakistan and North India. Their food is slow cooked and served within minutes. You can’t get any better than that. This is one of those fun restaurants that you can go to when you’re pressed for time but still want healthy and delicious options. We thoroughly enjoyed the time that we spent in this quaint melting pot.

At Thrive Cafe, another place we tried recently, the motto is Eat, Drink, Live. The Thrive Cafe is “pro bliss, pro joy, and pro shine.” Not only is this an amazing restaurant, it is also a store and a school. Buy your own ingredients for your own special culinary masterpieces or take classes from some of the best! This is a very healthy option with good prices and decadent flavors. They believe in the art of cooking and they sure show it. Relax and get energized at the Thrive Cafe!

At the end of the day (with pants that feel just a bit more snug), I only have one question: has eating Kosher ever tasted this good?

Bear Sampson is a guest blogger for An Apple a Day and a writer on earning your nursing degree for the Guide to Health Education.

When we first walked through the door, we really had no idea what to expect. The hostess greeted us amidst a standing room only crowd waiting for their tables. I highly suggest you make reservations if you do not want to wait long (619.255.1035). We were told it would be a two hour wait unless we wanted to eat at the bar. We chose the bar and were seated within 10 minutes as one couple gave up their place in line at just two minutes prior. What a stroke of luck!

As we browsed the menu, my wife and I find the selection more humble than the typical California cuisine style of restaurant we typically enjoy. This is what makes this restaurant a really great find.

For Starters the choice is clear: Asian Kung-Pao style calamari. Their claim is the calamari is breaded and flash-fried, however it comes as maybe best described as a quick stir fry with the peanut sauce, whole peanuts embedded with those fire bomb red peppers in a Spicy Hoisin Sauce. Although I personally love hot and spicy, one of the red peppers almost took me out this time. Lasting a good 20 minutes of burning tongue, I think I will be a little more cautious the next time around. But I digress,…overall this appetizer is really delicious and fairly unique from the traditional crispy calamari most restaurants deliver. Thumbs up!

On to the main course, the selections are clear. Paella Valenciana Clásica, a traditional dish from Valencia, Spain. Because of a recent visit to Spain, we wanted to compare paellas from Spain and California. Hands down, we have it pretty well here in San Diego. Their paella gives Spain a run for their money. Dressed with chorizo, chicken, rabbit; it is then garnished with black mussels, clams and shrimp and comes in the typical large Paella pan. Very delectable as most paellas are.

Our other choice is the Peruvian “Lomo Saltado“. Clearly, the arrival of Chinese indentured servants to work the coastal plantations and the railroads in the mid-19th Century had a profound effect on Peruvian eating habits. What I love about this place is they give an actual story about each dish; not just the ingredients, but how it came about. It adds a very nice cultural touch to the vagabond restaurant.

The Lomo Saltado has Tender Beef, Minced Garlic, Sliced Red Onions and Tomatoes, Yellow Potatoes, Freshly Chopped Cilantro, a Pinch of Ground Cumin and a few drops of Red Wine Vinegar. This dish is quite gratifying. The flavors are very well balanced from the meat to the potatoes. Try the Lomo Saltado and you will see why the Peruvians find this dish their favorite as well.

We skipped any type of dessert this time around as the dishes contain an adequate amount of food plus the appetizer put us over the consumption limit.

So all in all I am happy to write a positive restaurant review about Vagabond Kitchen nestled in Golden Hills. A hidden gem in San Diego but well worth going to even though it is a little loud from the music and the low roar of chatting. The ambience is great. The decor is very creative, showing off suitcases to signs from around the world. Vagabond is a very pleasant find.

Parking: The VAGABOND restaurant is nestled amongst homes and little businesses in the Golden Hills area. There is no valet; parking is found on the street or down the street in the residential area.

VAGABOND: Kitchen of the World
619.255.1035
2310 3Oth Street
San Diego, CA 92104

If you’re anywhere in 20 miles vicinity of Banana Leaf Malaysian restaurant make sure to stop by for a delicious bite to eat. Banana Leaf offers a unique blend of southern Asian foods from Malaysian, Indian, Hunan, to Thai.

For appetizers we decided on Roti Prata which is served as a multi-layered home made Indian bread dipped in lightly spiced curry sauce and Fresh Spring Rolls. The Roti Prata is a nice light appetizer for 2-3 people, but if you have more in your party, order more appetizers especially if you come hungry. The spring rolls come with shrimp, vermicelli, bean sprouts, basil & Chef’s peanut sauce but personally I think they are a little heavy on the vermicelli. The peanut sauce tastes great and is to die for if you like it semi spicy.

Other appetizers on the menu range from Gado-Gado, Chicken, Beef or Combo Satay, Green Papaya Salad, Lobak, Yu Sang,Sambal Anchovy, Roti Prata, Telur, Murtabak, Tofu Salad, to Penang Poh Piah.

For the main entrees, we ordered Indian Mee Goreng ($8.50) and Cumin Lamb ($12.95) with lemongrass, Thai chili & cilantro. The Mee Goreng is a spicy fried Indian noodle dish with prawns, squids, chicken, tofu, eggs, grounded peanuts & bean sprouts and has some resemblance to the taste of chow mein. On the other hand, the Cumin Lamb is quite a tasty dish. The chef does a wonderful job by adding layers of flavors and spices in this dish. Make sure someone in your party orders it so you can at least try some.

For main entrees, Banana Leaf also offers Poultry dishes such as Mango, Istimewa, Kapitan, Utama Basil, Rempah, Rendang, Green or Red Curry, Tai Pou, Malay Sizzling, Penang Sizzling or chicken.

Beef & Lamb dishes vary from Rendang, Green or Red Curry, Utama Basil, Malay Sizzling, Curry beef to Cumin Lamb.

The Seafood dishes range from Mango, Penang Sizzling, Asam, Siam, Singaporean Chili, and Utama Basil Prawns to Indian Red Curry Fish Heads to Salmon to Pomfrets and Crab.

They also have a decent vegetarian menu which includes a variety of noodle and rice dishes which you will also enjoy. View there vegetarian menu.

All the food at Banana Leaf is reasonably priced varying from $6.95 to $28.95. Because this restaurant is located in a shopping mall, it’s not the most elegant setting, but the food is worth tasting.

Expect a small wait if you don’t have reservations and especially if you’re dining on a Friday or Saturday evening. Parking is available via shared lot but usually packed. Stop into Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant next time your in the neighborhood of Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Altos, Cupertino, San Jose, or Fremont.

Banana Leaf Restaurant (map)

182 Ranch Dr
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 719-9811
www.bananaleaf-usa.com

Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Fri 5:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Sat 11:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

More reviews at Yelp.com