California Dreamin'-A 14 Day Odyssey to San Fran,Yosemite & DL! 8/2013 COMPLETE!1/9!!

Oh Wow - that looks amazing. Thanks for the tip - you know, about the money AND the fire extinguisher! :rotfl2: I am definitely put THAT on my bucket list for when I plan my West Coast adventure. :thumbsup2

Great update!
 
Just found your report and read all 10 pages. I live in the SF area, and actually try to avoid going into the city. But I did have a family meal at the same Dim Sum place a few years ago. I don't remember any fire alarms going off back then!
 
The Dim Sum looked so amazing. I just love stuff like that. Plus egg custard. What a great dinner!
 
We drove back to the city, through Mt Tamalpais-

Looks like a beautiful drive, north of the city.

But we had no time for more hiking, we had a lunch reservation at Yank Sing for Dim Sum- you heard me, Captain Oblivious-

Now look, Koko Head...:rotfl2:

Dim Sum means "to touch the heart."

Unless you're referring to me, of course.


We had a lot of seafood, go figure! This was walnut shrimp- I am salivating remembering those walnuts and perfectly cooked, sweet shrimp-

But where are the burgers?!:rotfl:

OMG, these are soooo GOOD! Says the man who snarfed one down all by himself. "I had no idea these would be so great!!"

Yea. Good thing you have ME around, Mister!

+1:thumbsup2 for trip research.

And then....the fire alarm went off. And people started running out of the restaurant.

Except Pods. Who felt it was a good time to hit the head.

When you gotta go, you gotta go.
 


That place looks awesome! I'd be really bummed if I weren't just heading over to Epcot for F&W. Now hurry up bellman! Come back with that second cart for our groceries so we can move over to the Beach club!

I think I'll hit China and Singapore first!

Glad the boys mastered their chopsticks. At least pods knew there wouldn't be a line at the head!
 
She is still going to go. Too late to cancel everything now. She was headed out to Arizona for a family reunion of sorts (her husband's side) and they are staying with them for a large portion of the trip. Grand Canyon was one of the things they had built into this several week bonanza vacation that they really wanted to do, since they have no idea when they might get the chance to head out that way again. I feel terrible for her....they were really looking forward to it. I'm sure they will still have fun with family regardless, but its still a huge disappointment.

I'm so happy there was another purpose to the trip, but that is STILL horrible and mega disappointing. I really wonder how some politicians sleep at night...

Just found your report and read all 10 pages. I live in the SF area, and actually try to avoid going into the city. But I did have a family meal at the same Dim Sum place a few years ago. I don't remember any fire alarms going off back then!

LOL- maybe it's a more recent issue- I think I read it in some Yelp reviews. And LUCKY YOU- living there- Northern California is absolutely glorious!

The Dim Sum looked so amazing. I just love stuff like that. Plus egg custard. What a great dinner!

It was great- but it was lunch, lol!

Looks like a beautiful drive, north of the city.



Now look, Koko Head...:rotfl2:

HEY!!! Who said you could call ME names???? :rotfl:

Unless you're referring to me, of course.

And the translation of Koko Head is???????:scratchin


But where are the burgers?!:rotfl:

At In-n-Out tomorrow.....

+1:thumbsup2 for trip research.

I really am quite impressive on the no stone left unturned front, huh? :rolleyes2

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

Says another man.....:upsidedow

That place looks awesome! I'd be really bummed if I weren't just heading over to Epcot for F&W. Now hurry up bellman! Come back with that second cart for our groceries so we can move over to the Beach club!

SO excited you are on your trip!!! :hyper: I spent so much time reading your updates yesterday that I ran out of time to post!

I think I'll hit China and Singapore first!

How was it? 1st time i am not going in ....many, many years- so I will live vicariously through you-

Glad the boys mastered their chopsticks. At least pods knew there wouldn't be a line at the head!

O.M.G.

That lunch looks crazy good!

Ohhh....it was amazing.......:worship:
 


A+ for food porn girl. I love me some dumplings as well and those egg custard tarts look deadly.
 
Loving your trip report!

I live in central California and go to San Francisco at least 6 times a year and I had never heard about The Musee Mecanique or Yank Sing's dim sum lunch.

I'm adding both of them to my to do list! Which seems to be a never ending list. There's just too many great little surprises in that city.

I don't know if you're still in the city, but some of my favorite random bay area things are:
- Seward Street Slides (more info on yelp, super random, mostly just a fun excuse to explore the Castro)
- Rock Wall Wine Company in Alameda (really weird location for a winery, but amazing view of the city from across the bay)
- All the little restaurants on Belden Place (It's a tiny alley off of Bush St between Kearny and Montgomery with at least 5 different, all delicious restaurants. At night with all the lights it looks like a scene out of a movie. Great food and a fabulous hidden away atmosphere. )
 
OMG! You ate at one of my favorite places EVER!!!!:cheer2: Didn't you just love it!!!?????

Ugh - now that I can't eat stupid gluten, I suppose I will never eat there again. GAH!!!!

Still hoping to do the Cali trip next summer, but I am looking at furlough (I work for the lovely federal government) starting next week, so we'll see what effect that has! :crazy2:
 
A+ for food porn girl. I love me some dumplings as well and those egg custard tarts look deadly.

And now I'm replying on my thread to you- it's all Jenny, Jenny, Jenny today....:rotfl:

All was delicious, and I have to say thanks for noticing the pretty pics- the new and better camera (That was unfortunately wigging out half the time and wouldn't let me use flash when I wanted to) takes much, much clearer pics than my old one. VERY happy with the camera (except for that flas problem, which I have not had since CA, go figure!).


Loving your trip report!

I live in central California and go to San Francisco at least 6 times a year and I had never heard about The Musee Mecanique or Yank Sing's dim sum lunch.

I'm adding both of them to my to do list! Which seems to be a never ending list. There's just too many great little surprises in that city.

I don't know if you're still in the city, but some of my favorite random bay area things are:
- Seward Street Slides (more info on yelp, super random, mostly just a fun excuse to explore the Castro)
- Rock Wall Wine Company in Alameda (really weird location for a winery, but amazing view of the city from across the bay)
- All the little restaurants on Belden Place (It's a tiny alley off of Bush St between Kearny and Montgomery with at least 5 different, all delicious restaurants. At night with all the lights it looks like a scene out of a movie. Great food and a fabulous hidden away atmosphere. )

Thank you!! And no, I am unfortunately NOT still there, but I will be back someday- so glad I could come up with some stuff you haven't done! You will absolutely LOVE Yank Sing- INSANELY delicious....

And...THE SLIDES!!!!!! :faint: I had them on my list, but we never made it- I just KNEW they looked like fun! I mentioned them MONTHS ago to the tour guide we used, and he was not familiar with them, but said he would figure it out- but I believe he forgot, and I did not speak up about it during the tour because we were doing other things. But now, reading your comment, I am so bummed we didn't go!! I thought me boys would have loved it- oh well. I think we saw so much else with him (Holgar), and I could not figure out how to get there on my own, so we didn't. I will make note of the winery and restaurants for another time- when my hubby and I come back (which I know we will, because that city even impressed Pods, it is just so stunning! Lucky you, 6x a year! :worship:


OMG! You ate at one of my favorite places EVER!!!!:cheer2: Didn't you just love it!!!?????

Totally, yes- we did just love it!

Ugh - now that I can't eat stupid gluten, I suppose I will never eat there again. GAH!!!!

Do they use wheat flour? Aren't the dumplings all made with rice flour? Couldn't you bring non-gluten soy sauce with you?

Still hoping to do the Cali trip next summer, but I am looking at furlough (I work for the lovely federal government) starting next week, so we'll see what effect that has! :crazy2:

That really STINKS- I hope you are not on un-planned vacation for too long. pixiedust:
 
Wow! That is some SERIOUS food! LOVE all the photos and I made a note of the place, so when we finally make it to California we can pay it a visit. :thumbsup2
 
I'm lovin' your TR so far and it's only the beginning! :love: I can't wait to read what's to come. So happy you enjoyed Yank Sing! It is definitely pricey, but now you are officially a dim sum snob. :goodvibes Some of their dishes are pretty hard to beat. I'm still not sure how they get that soup in those Shanghai dumplings. I also love how adventurous your boys are when it comes to trying new foods. You've taught them well. :thumbsup2
 
I want to tell you how reading this update went. Here are my responses. :rotfl2:





Stuffed Mushrooms-



Hello.

On the left, Stuffed Crab Claws Light and fluffy crab and shrimp mousse croquette encasing a whole snow crab claw, deep-fried until golden brown. On the right, spring rolls, cut in half-



Hello.

We got more of those crab claws, the boys LOVED them. Next- Shanghai Dumpling A Yank Sing signature dish of minced Kurobuta Pork, scallion and ginger wrapped and steamed in its own aromatic broth.

ummm, hello.



I think those were my favorite- I love soup dumplings. These were shrimp dumplings, they had bamboo shoots and waterchestnuts in them, I think-

Hello and hello my beloved water chestnuts.



We had a lot of seafood, go figure! This was walnut shrimp- I am salivating remembering those walnuts and perfectly cooked, sweet shrimp-

Hello. And hello scrumptious walnuts - glad you could make it!




Bacon wrapped shrimp- we got another order of this one as well, T&T are BIG bacon fans-


HELLO.


MORE shrimp! This one was Phoenix Tailed Shrimp Whole plump shrimp, with a shrimp mousse croquette encasing, lightly battered and deep-fried until golden brown; served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

More? Hello.


When we went in, the kids were pretty confused about what was going on- they knew we were going in for Chinese, but that they would NOT be having any chicken and broccoli today, so they were a bit leary. After the first plate, they were SOLD! Dim Sum had touched their hearts for sure!

Hello Ellen's boys. You won the parent lottery, do you know? LUCKY YOU GUYS.



Pork Sui Mye Hand-chopped shrimp and pork filling, hand-wrapped in fresh pasta skin and hand-formed into a fluted 'basket.'

Hello.



And the last one- no idea at this point, but it was great like the rest, I am sure! I think it was vegetarian.

Who cares what it is? :lmao: Hello.






Well, my dinner is pretty much going to suck now. :rotfl2: I'll think I'll have rum for dinner instead. :lmao: :thumbsup2

Gorgeous shots, Ellen.

Oh boy, I would love to just pop in there. I have dim sum in walking distance. I should just go count my change. :thumbsup2
 
That all looks so heavenly! I love asian food, and especially some dumplings! Thank goodness we have a little chinese place in town that makes homemade dumplings! :cool1:
 
Yum! Love Dim Sum. I have not had it in a while, NY Chinatown is so small and so crowded.
That meal looked delicious.
 
Oh my, I think I gained 5 pounds just looking at your dim sum pics! Seriously, though, that redwood forest is absolutely breathtaking! Can't wait to see and read more.

:flower3:
 
Loving your TR-as usual!! We are trying to decide between a West Coast trip and Hawaii for summer of 2015. I love reading about your adventures and getting ideas for some of our own!
Thanks for sharing!:lovestruc
 
Fabulous photos (as usual!!)-- love the moody Golden Gate bridge shot.

But OMG, the dim sum! I adore that stuff. Suddenly my leftovers aren't looking so appealing for dinner tonight!
 
....I've got '1700 more hours' ta go;)
before I leave for the Rose Bowl & my SO CAL Adventure.......



I am living vicariously thru ya and ......


well..........


YA LEFT US HANGING!!!!!:sad:




Um.......we ALL MISS YA & Hope ya crank dis here bugger back up.

Hmmmmm.....have u been MONKEE KISSIN' AGAIN??? IS THAT THE REASON 4 THE DELAY??:rotfl2:


Details!! We wanna details!!:yay:




P.S. I am now at a 72 pound weight loss!!:cheer2: Details on my ongoing weight loss journey can be found on my SAN FRAN, ROSE BOWL trip report listed below in my signature. (starting on posting #68 forward).:goodvibes


T.T.F.N.:wave2:
&
Cheerrs
 

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