A Quiet Labor Day Weekend

The last official holiday of summer is Labor Day, and this holiday weekend was quiet. Compared to past years, we didn't get any invite for any barbeque or end-of-summer get-together. I guess everyone has moved on from the days of kumbaya.

Catfish in Sweet Sour Broth

Weekends are always fun, to a certain degree, because it's an excuse to try out new eating places and to pig out. This past holiday weekend, it wasn't about exploring anything new, but merely to indulge in local favorites. And that's basically what we did.

Fried Shrimp Cupcakes

We visited our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Newark, Vung Tau 3,
and satisfied out craving for a catfish dish cooked in sweet sour broth. Don't ask me what it's called because every time we order it, we either describe it or point to the menu. The usual fried spring roll or salt 'n pepper squid are good compliments to this fish dish. But this time we had fried shrimp cupcakes.

Morning-after Burger

The Vine, in the Niles district of Fremont, was another new-found favorite. I would describe this place as eclectic funk, popular for its Sunday brunch. There is always a line and the wait can be long. If you don't get there when they open, you'll have to be patient. We had to wait for almost an hour before we got seated. They don't take reservations nor take calls to have your name put on the list even if you are driving and minutes away. And the ladies manning the front aren't efficient either. Food is really not out-of-this-world fantastic, but it's quite different. I had their morning-after burger, with bacon over an english muffin (I think), and it was quite good. The corned beef is also popular, and so is the fried chicken and waffles. And the coffee? Don't bother. But they do have a Bloody Mary with bacon (yes, BACON!!!).

Aniki's OMG Sushi Roll

Over the past few months, we've been regular fixtures at Aniki's on Mowry Avenue in Fremont. This sushi and sake bar was introduced to us my a former St. Joe dad, Louie. They have a large selection of original sushi rolls, and their sashimi is super fresh. It's probably one of the freshest I've ever had. And their prices are quite reasonable, too. We used to drive all the way to Hayward for our sushi & sashimi fix, but not anymore. As in all good places, this one is always packed, and the wait is anywhere from 30-45 minutes. If you're undecided on what roll to get, ask restaurant manager, Carlos, and he'll guide you.

Dohatsuten Signature Ramen

For a quick, hot meal, there's always this ramen place we go to along Mission Blvd, across Ohlone College. It's called Dohatsuten. I've had ramen served many different ways, but I still find this one probably the best, or at least, my favorite. It's a small, simple ramen house, with enough variety to choose from. I always get their signature ramen (Dohatsuten) in miso broth. I can't describe what's in it, but it's good and filling. I suggest you check it out. They also have some appetizers and other dishes to choose from if ramen is not your fancy.

Gong Cha in Fremont

Adding to the already crowded milk tea beverage market is a new place caleld, Gong Cha, located in the commercial complex, comprised mostly of Asian stores and stalls, along Warm Springs Blvd (and Mission). Another former St. Joe parent, Jenny, introduced us to this place. This Taiwanese franchise is new, and is the only one in the US, for now. And for us Fremont residents, we're lucky to have its presence in our neck of the woods. The line was long when we tried it. I don't think the line was long because of the volume of people, but I think it was more about how fast (or slow) they can make the product and have the customer out the door.  For tea lovers in cold form, this is something you may want to try. Since I am not a tea aficionado, I opted for the non-caffeine lemon winter melon drink, mixed with some seeds and tapioca "pearls".. What's quite unique is that you can customize the sweetness of your drink (not my drink though) and how much ice you want in it.

42

The Butler

Aside from eating, we also watched a couple of movies. First, in the comfort of our family room, we watched "42". This Jackie Robinson story was quite entertaining. It gave us a glimpse of the racial issues of the past, and how that divide was overcome in sports, particularly in baseball. As a follow up to that, we also watched "The Butler" on the big screen. Similarly, it was a snapshot in the life of an African-American father, during the racially-filled years in American history, who managed to find work in the White House as a butler, and served 8 presidents over 34 years. As in a most Hollywood bio flicks, not everything in the movie was true. Check online and you'll find a number of articles that call out the inaccuracies. But then again, movies are there to entertain, and this one was quite alright.

It wasn't the Labor Day holiday I had in mind, but it wasn't bad. But what is an ideal Labor Day holiday anyway?

Note: Author wishes to acknowledge Yelp and IMDb for the photographs and illustrations used in the post.