Moschetti Cafe in Vallejo, CA

Moschetti Cafe finally opened in Vallejo this week. I decided to drop in after shopping at the Vallejo Farmer's Market, Alibi Bookstore, and Integritea Tea Shop this afternoon.

Above and below: Moschetti is elegantly appointed, and I've been inside the space several times, as they've had several one time events in this space going back years.

Above and below: here's one thing I didn't expect to see, dry and chilled goods for sale, in line with the cuisine at Moschetti's. That might be the only Truffle Mousse for sale in Vallejo down there.

Quiche Lorraine. I was mighty tempted to get a slice. Moschetti's also has a good selection of pastries, but it looked like they were almost completely sold out by the time I arrived.

My decaf Americano. Which, by the way, was perfectly made. Even though Americano is pretty easy to make, you can't take it for granted that the barista knows what they're doing. No such problem at Moschetti Cafe--it was perfect. Plus, the coffee is freshly roasted.

A Le Dagobert sandwich: ham, cheese, eggs, tomato, greens and aioli on a perfect baguette. All the ingredients were high quality and fresh, even the baguette had outstanding flavor and tooth, the greens very fresh with a nice bitterness that contrasted nicely to the umami of the ham, eggs and cheese, aioli with just the right amount of garlic zing, and of course in season tomato. If all the sandwiches and other culinary options at Moschetti's Cafe are this good, it'll become a destination restaurant in Vallejo.

Moschetti Cafe

925 Marin in Vallejo

Currently Hours are 7:30am-2pm

Tuesday-Saturdays

Maya Thai House in Vallejo

Drunken Noodle with Beef at Maya Thai

Maya Thai opened in this strip center a few years ago, at the NE corner of Redwood & Sonoma in Vallejo. This was the former location of Pho #1, and at first I didn't think Maya Thai was that special--it was very good, but boy howdy, they sure have upped their game. Spices and flavors are vibrant, there's a level of nuance here I've only encoutered with a couple of Lao/Thai restaurants in the East Bay, but given what I've tasted in recent visits, this is in my opinion the best Thai restaurant I've experienced in the Bay Area.

Another shot of the Drunken Noodle with beef. Plenty of basil & garlic, some chile, flat rice noodles cooked perfectly, as is the beef and vegetables. Sue's Kitchen (El Sobrante) & Champa Garden (Oakland & other locations) do versions that are similarly excellent, but all 3 have their own signature flavor.

Above & below: Eggplant Salad. The Papaya Salads is what I usually get at Thai, Lao and Vietnamese restaurants, and of course Maya Thai does a great version of that. But I've never seen Eggplant Salad on a menu that I can recall. 

Larb. We got the Chicken version, which we think of as the "classic" version, but I'm noticing they also do a Tofu version. That might be interesting to try sometime. Nearly ever protein on the menu can be subbed with Tofu.

Here's the must try dish: Panang Curry (above & two below). I've never had a version quite as excellent as this one. This dish should single-handedly make Maya Thai a destination restaurant. The thin green strips are Kaffir Lime, and the curry (like much on the menu) is coconut & spice based. Absolute bliss.

Above and below, a great version of Tom Kha (Thai style coconut noodle soup with lemongrass).

Another brilliant dish: Curry Noodle, or Kao Soy. Egg noodle in yellow curry base with cilantro, scallions, lime, pickled mustard.

Papaya Salad.

Pad Thai.

Spicy Basil Duck. The blend of eggplant, basil & duck is exquisite.

Maya Thai House

3624 Sonoma Blvd.

Vallejo, CA 94590

707-654-8969

Closed between 4 & 5pm

http://www.mayathaihousevallejo.com

Dyafa: Arabic Cuisine in Jack London Square in Oakland

Kefta at Dyafa.

We wanted to try something new for Restaurant Week in Oakland, so we came here. As you can see from the outside and indoor shot, Dyafa's got a great view of the Oakland Marina in Jack London Square.

Damascus Lemonade: lemon, mint, & orange blossom water.

Kefta Burger Flatbread Wrap with onion, parsley, red cabbage, tahini and spices (including Zahtar, I do believe). All the constituent pieces of this dish set a new gold standard for me. The pita bread tasted very fresh, a scrumptious interplay between the spongy inside and slightly charred outside. The beef was very juicy considering it was more on the medium side rather than medium rare, and tastes like prime quality ground with spice accents. The vegetables are bright & fresh.

Fattoush: our salads included chicory, that bitter winter green that plays well off the pomegranate seeds and dressing. All the vegetables were crisp and quite flavorful. All said, a perfect lunch. We shall return to explore the menu further.

Dyafa

44 Webster Street, Oakland

510-250-9491

One House Bakery in Benicia

Grilled Cheese on Toasted Levain Bread with Pulled Pork.

Key Lime Tart.

Almond Chocolate Croissant & Leek Brioche at One House Bakery in Benicia.

I'd been hearing nothing but rave reviews about One House Bakery, and after a number of visits, I'd have to say if anything, what I heard doesn't praise One House enough. This bakery is on par with favorites in San Francisco (Arsicault, B. Patisserie & Neighbor Bakehouse), the East Bay, and  Bouchon in Yountville. Except the lines here, as I've experienced them, are quite short. I don't think that'll last. Also, there's plenty of free parking nearby. We're lucky to have such a place here in Solano County.

Check out the nautical decor. I shot lots of photos of One House, but decided to leave them out so you can discover that on your own, and leave the focus here on the great pastries and brilliant lunch menu.

Above and below: the pastry counter is up first, and what you see here is a typical selection, though there's usually some new things here and there.

At left: Almond Chocolate Croissant & Leek Brioche; at right, Cardamom Date Coconut Oat Bar.

One House Bakery does the small things right. Part of the reason to come here is because of the undoubted skills of the pastry chefs, but also for the use of top-notch ingredients, high quality chocolate, locally sourced vegetables, and imported French butter. I used to be so thankful that I went to Paris once & experienced what it was like to have a perfect croissant, still hot from the oven. I'd probably never experience that again, I thought, but then I moved to the Bay Area, and found a few bakeries on such an exalted level. And now there's one here in Solano County. We are so blessed.

In all my life, I've never encountered a Cardamom Date Coconut Oat Bar, and this combination is so classic that I'm sure there are pastries or dessert items with Cardamom and Date combined. It's a stunningly great pairing, and Oat Bars are easy to make. Though the result here is so beyond anything I've had or made, so it's as if they made perfection look easy & relatively effortless.

Another time we got a Cardamom Date Bar, this time with a Pecan Brownie, rich & fudgy, and paired nicely with pecans.

Lemon Poppyseed cake and two pieces of Shortbread. Spot on.

Chocolate Raspberry Roulade to die for. Luscious, melty rich, erotic and fulfilling at once.

So they've got a nice patio, and various nooks and crannies indoors and out front. I know folks who've started bakeries and cafes, and I've considered getting in the business myself, having worked in the industry, and I've considered what do you have to do to make it work. One House is doing everything right. Profit margins for bakeries are low because it's such a demanding, time-consuming craft. But One House Bakery does more than serve incredible pastries and coffee--they have lunch offerings, & a well-curated wine and beer list as well. 

Creamy Polenta with Braised Pork, and side Frisee Salad. Pretty sure I've never had a Polenta with that level of depth of flavor, unctuous pork dusted with parm, and plenty of butter and cream in the polenta.

Salad Lyonnaise, with a soft poached egg, crispy pancetta lardons, over frisee with caramelized onion, parmesan, and a couple of pieces of bread from an Epi Baguette. They mill their own flour at One House, so their breads have a tooth to them that sets them apart.

Cuban Meat Pie & Bacon Frittata. More superb offerings. One thing to add is the prices are astoundingly affordable given the caliber of the offerings.

Puff Pastry Cheese Sticks.

One House Bakery

918 1st Street, Benicia, CA

Hours: 8am-6pm (closed on most holidays)

707-361-5919

onehousebakery.com