Pho 32 & Shabu

Pho 32 & Shabu was a cool spot. We were just passing by searching for an awesome Pho spot. I checked out Yelp and decided we should take a chance on this place because some of the reviews were really good, so we did. We actually ended up going back a second time, we were so happy.

With Pho I usually get my normal Chicken with glass noodles. The spicy sauces they served were decent; Siracha of course but one that seemed to be that mixed with something very spicy. We also tried the pork and shrimp vermicelli bowl.

Served with the usual fixings: Siracha, plum sauce, a spicy red sauce, fish sauce, bean sprouts, jalapeno s sliced, lime and cilantro. No basil which was a little odd to me, but that was okay.

The food was flavorful, perfect temperature and hit the spot; both times.

The inside of the place is pretty neat: they have a personal burner at each place setting on the tables, which seems like it could potentially become quite dangerous, but very neat. The service is totally "meh" in fact it may be a little worse than that, but it was alright for us.

DBGB Kitchen

A recent trip to the Big Apple took me to some of New York City's finest eateries. DBGB Kitchen was among these hot spots. My fiance is a well respected local chef in Healdsburg and is always yearning for some  culinary inspiration. Nothing more than simple perfection can be used to describe this place.
From the wittiness of the server whose red curly locks suggests she a NYC hip trendsetter and not only enjoys what she does but also dines in her backyard.The bartender and his pride for mixology; he carried out my Manhattan and expressed to me he had no more Maker's Mark Bourbon but that he recommends Woodford Reserve. Yes, please! I giggle each time I recall that experience when he not only brought out my Manhattan but knelt beside our booth and waited patiently and eagerly while I took my first sip- I confidently gave him a genuine *thumbs up smile*.
To the unbelievably inexpensive Prix Fixed menu ($27) which included their famous burgers, your choice of three.
To the inside of the dinning room where you gaze up into a shrine of culinary brilliance: the copper pots and pans donated to the design of the restaurant by some of the worlds finest chefs.
See the restrooms lined with the measurement descriptions and conversions, knife descriptions, silverware explanations and the know all of cooking from a French culinary guide. The paper lining the restrooms are not only from a book but appear to be spilled on and soiled as though used by a renowned chef day in and day out- I fantasized that the one and only great Julia Child left her collections to such a project.
Taste the knowledge of the Sommelier through the ongoing list of micro brews that were carefully selected based on how well they would pair with the food.
Indulge in the brilliance of Daniel Bulud and his team. For a whopping $27 one can walk away feeling taken care of, spoiled with a fantastic meal and like we had just eaten at one of  New York's finest restaurants- which is all true.
I ordered the Frenchie Burger: confit tomato, arugula, morbier cheese,
confit pork belly, bacon and black pepper bun (house made). A good rule of thumb is: Bacon makes everything better. It's very true. So if it isn't enough to stick to that, try dabbling in this: Pork belly makes bacon better. Forget the cheese and the house made bun; you've got beef, pork belly (confit pork belly, no less) And bacon! Okay, don't forget the cheese or the bun. This burger is dynamite. A true expression of culinary creativity.
Great fries. Fresh, crisp on the outside and nice a soft inside. Lightly salted.
Black forest cake, phenomenal. Presentation is so thought out, the
flavors are balanced. After a filling meal, the last part- desert just cannot be missed, it's beautifully done and every bite mirrors the image; perfection.

Truth be told, I know food, I am passionate about it anyway.

The Wurst

The Wurst is anything but... the dogs are inspired by the owners hometown, Detroit.

The place can be a little overwhelming at first. There is a large menu above the front counter, a gal behind the counter taking orders and depending on the time of day, several gals walking through the line taking orders, so you have to be quick and know what you want.There is a lot to choose from on the menus with the selection of dogs and then your choice of sides: sauerkraut, hot peppers, grilled onions.
I recommend going in and grabbing a menu, stepping aside and taking it all in. There are many dogs to choose from: pork, chicken apple, coney island, plain, chilli dog and the list goes on because it changes. Then there are burgers. I really feel that this is by far the best burger I have had in Sonoma County. If you are a reader, you may recall I have an undying love for the The Underwood restaurant in Graton, and their burgers have long been my favorite. Then there was P/30 whose pickles alone tickled my palate and buns wrapped over the patty like blankets, there was no sliding or dripping, I was torn between the two. Now, I must say, Wurst's Smash Burger" is succulent, grass fed beef flavored with spices, the cheese is perfectly melted, the special sauce they have created gently wipe the bun with holds a bit of a nostalgic memory for me; like a thousand island dressing but "upscale" and the pickles, well, the pickles are tart and sweet at the same time and just thick enough that each bite is crunchy and satisfying. There is also the BBQ slaw burger that they use the Murphy-Goode's  (the wine tasting room right next door) Liar's Dice Zinfandel BBQ Sauce.
The buns are potato and fit each sausage perfectly and hold the burgers in nicely. The buns themselves are full of flavor and are oh so fresh. The burger itself is so tender and fresh that along with the bun, this experience can be somewhat messy. Well, extremely messy actually. But it is well worth it.

Everything is a la carte so order yourself some fries or onion rings, they are tasty. There is a selection of dipping sauces for those: truffle is by far, the best!

They serve a lot of locals so why not serve local product? They do, wherever they can. All the sauces were created with the help of former Starks Reality Restaurants Chef, Tracey Shepos. Their selection of micro brews are pretty good and they change them fairly frequently. My top favorite brews they carry (of course with the influence of Tim) are Racer 5, Little Sumpin' and Anderson Valley's Boont.

I highly recommend visiting Wurst. It's good for kids and families. A great place to dine outside and people watch.

The cost of lunch for two with a beer each: $37. which includes
Smash burger
regular dog *add cheddar
Boont beer
Little Sumpin beer

Who doesn't want to eat a Moustache cupcake?!

Moustache Baked Goods is a great addition to Healdsburg. The little cakes are pricey to say the least, but damn good. The pumpkin whoopie pie was creamy, moist, rich and delicious. The caramel cupcake with sea salt on top- amazing. I could sit and eat those all day long instead of going to Starbucks for a salted caramel mocha.... The owner is a delight. He is charming and genuinely happy to be right where he is. I hope this places does well. I know $3 for a cupcake is a lot of loot but its not much worse than spending $12 on a cocktail. Its artistry.