Talenti Gelato

I find gelato much more enjoyable than ice cream, in general, since it has a higher fat content. If I'm going to indulge, I want something that's worth the extra indulgence. This is a brand of gelato that I discovered just a few weeks ago that I've become a huge fan of. It is so rich and creamy that I had to write about it. There are many flavors to choose from, but the one below is my favorite. Each flavor tastes exactly as it should without being too sweet or overpowering and without that processed aftertaste.

I see them on sale at Raley's and at a few other grocery stores. If you like gelato, or have yet to try it, I would highly recommend checking this one out.

Nordstrom Cafe Bistro--San Jose (American cuisine)

After a long morning of shopping with some friends, some good food was in order. Who would have thought a really good restaurant would be in a mall. At 2400 Forest Avenue, in the Valley Fair Mall in San Jose, at the back of the Nordstrom Department store is a delightful little cafe.

The way it works is this: you pick up a menu that's right outside the front entrance, figure out what you want, enter, order and pay at the counter and then get seated. Then you get the surprise of your life with incredibly fresh and well-prepared dishes.

First was a Nicoise Salad with Salmon. The salmon was well prepared and seasoned with herbs and dijon. The greens were fresh and it was lightly dressed with a dijon balsamic vinaigrette. Very nice.

Next was the Braised Short Rib Pappardelle. The short ribs were slow-cooked and they were very tender and moist. The red wine tomato sauce was not overwhelming and the spinach and creamy goat cheese finished it off perfectly. Very enjoyable.

We also tried the Rustic Vegetable & Three Cheese Pizza. Baked in a brick oven, the crust was thin and crisp with that nice clay-cooked aroma. Topped with artichokes, baby spinach, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, aged provolone, parmesan cheese, and fresh basil, this was a hearty, satisfying pizza.

Since bread pudding is one of my favorite types of desserts, I had to try it. It came warm with a nice toasty exterior with a soft, but not mushy interior. Served with a raspberry sauce, vanilla sauce, fresh cream, and white chocolate shavings, this was a very nice ending to a very good meal.

The service, as well as the decor, was elegant. I would highly recommend skipping the fast food when shopping at this mall and go straight for this hidden gem.

Fish Sandwich (Recipe)

I've been on a bit of a fish kick lately. Actually, I absolutely love fish of all kinds. I just don't eat it enough since it's usually a bit pricey. But some Pacific Red Snapper was on sale at the grocery store this week and I took advantage. So for dinner the other night, I thought a fish sandwich would be delicious and nutritious. Here's what I did to make two sandwiches.

I first pan cooked four pieces of bacon until crisp and set them aside on a plate lined with a paper towel. I then took two 8-ounce fillets and removed the bones using clean needle-nosed pliers. I patted them dry with paper towels and sprinkled them with salt, pepper, garlic powder and red chili flakes. I heated a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, sprayed it with cooking spray and placed the fillets in the pan and cooked them on each side for 3 1/2 minutes until the inside was no longer opaque. There is no shame in cutting the fish fillets in half to see if it's fully cooked on the inside.

While the fish cooked, I took two french rolls, lightly buttered the insides and placed them in the toaster oven. I set the timer for 3 1/2 minutes. Then I took two handfuls of fresh arugula, and tossed them with a splash of fresh lime juice, olive oil and a small pinch of salt and pepper.

When the fish was done, I removed them from the pan and set them aside. I then wiped out the pan with a paper towel and fried two eggs till over medium and set them aside. To assemble the sandwich, I spread some pineapple habanero mayo (mayo mixed with Robert Rothschild Farm's Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip--available on-line or in some specialty stores; pictured below) on both sides of the bun and added the fish, one egg, two slices of bacon, a slice of brie cheese, and the arugula. Dinner was served and it was a hit! I think the only thing that would have made it better would be some pickled onions and/or pickled jalapeno peppers. Next time.