Shabuway in Mountain View, CA

After work last night, Nai and I went to go get dinner at Shabuway off Castro St. in Downtown Mountain View.

It was one of the few places with a wait on Friday night, but I've heard good things. We couldn't really figure out what we wanted to eat... but Nai has been before and liked it. I haven't done 'Shabu Shabu' in ages, so it was fun to do again.

There were two massive groups waiting in the front of the restaurant -- one with 7 people and one with 9 people. Considering the place holds maybe 20 people, I was concerned we weren't gonna eat for a while. Alas, we were seated in about 5 minutes at the counter with no problems.

The restaurant is a mix of modern and classic. The menu and food are very streamlined... a la In-N-Out. You have meat and veggies, drinks, and a few other dishes.

Nai and I both got the large meat/veggies plate for $15 and some change. The only real choice you have is whether or not you want lean beef or not. Apparently the lean beef is pretty much no fat. We both opted for the full flavor version.

Shabu Shabu is very much an experience. If you handed me raw meat and veggies and said 'go boil it yourself, bitch!' i'd probably slap you. But it's fun and makes for an enjoyable dinner experience because it gives you time to talk with your dinner company.

When you walk into the place, you can see the 'Kobe-style' beef being sliced by chefs on your right hand side. Shabuway only has beef as an option, so no modern variations like chicken or seafood for your boiling pot of water. Additionally, the water comes only in a normal version... so those who like spicy need not apply.

The food was good, but as soon as I got home, I felt really heavy. I mean, I ate a ton of meat and a smaller amount of veggies. I also had some Oolong tea. But I literally passed out because I felt like a ton of bricks.

Overall, a good experience and probably a really good date place. Not good for big groups.

On Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/shabuway-mountain-view

Transformers: The Movie

I wasn't planning on seeing Transformers, let alone on opening night.

On Monday, I found out that the good 'ol GOOG got some tix for employees at the AMC Mercado in Santa Clara. Nai and I were lucky enough to snag a couple. We saw the 6:45 showing on Tuesday.

It was quite long for a summer flick. Running at ~2:15 mins, it most def could have been cut down a bit. But overall, this was a good film. Actually, I was going in with low expectations and was caught off guard. The humor in the movie was fantastic. It was a nice blend of Steven Spielberg's humor and Michael Bay's action.

I remember having some Transformers toys as a kid. I had a toy that transformed into a radio. That was pretty cool.

From a marketing standpoint, I was pretty astonished the number of product placements in the film. Off hand I could remember: Chevy, GM, Burger King, Apple, Mountain Dew, Ebay, Yahoo, Xbox, Nokia, and Panasonic. I notice these things... because, well I studied this in college.

Fraiche Yogurt (Palo Alto) Review

My Review (As Seen on Yelp.com)

I'm from Southern California (don't hate) and am all too familiar with the 'Tart Fro-Yo' craze. This isn't your 80's Penguins Fro-Yo people. It's fresh (hehe!) simple yogurt with actual fruit toppings. I've been to Pinkberry and Barenaked Yogurt in So Cal. They're both good and much more tart than Fraiche Yogurt. I'm also familiar with the war going on with the original Korean Red Mango. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty, I know who will win the 2007 Fro Yo War... and that's Fraiche Yogurt in Palo Alto, CA. George Bush should devote troops to this war because it's gonna get C-R-A-Z-Y.

Push aside the soccer moms screaming 'It only has @% calories!' and the yuppies in those designer jeans. Order yourself a regular cup with two fresh fruits of your choice. It's a nice size and make you feel oh so Fraiche and so clean afterward. You could even be adventurous and go for the soy or chocolate versions.

It's true, it's a bit pricey. Even more so than the powdered stuff in So Cal. But since it's organic and made fresh on-site, I'll forgive 'em.

The first time I went was when Apple released their iPhone. I think one day the lines will be just as crazy because it's THAT yummy. I predict security will be outside soon guarding the doors...

I just got back from my second adventure there. It was just as tasty. If it were closer to Sunnyvale, I'd go daily. I'll have to settle for two times a week. Boo ya!

Bonus: The interior is very Zen. Nice brown leather booths, fun pillows, and an eye poppin' curvy white wall.

Minus: No option for pineapple as a topping. :/

Pictures can be seen on my Picasa Web Album below:

Fraiche Yogurt Palo Alto

After my second visit, I left a suggestion in the suggestion box near the entrance. I got a yelp.com message from one of the co-owners this afternoon:

Hi Will,
I just peeked in our suggestion box and got your message, and then saw your review on Yelp.
I just wanted to say thank you, and I'm glad you liked our yogurt and store so much!

Regards,
Jessica (co-owner, Fraiche)