CG at a Glance

Take a sneak peek at what Country Gourmet has to offer...

Strawberry-banana french toast made with homemade banana bread, in-house maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh strawberries.  You won't be disappointed. My apologies for the poor photo quality.

The Whole Sha-bang-asm

I knew it would one day come to this: a proclamation of my love for The Boiling Crab.  After much hesitation, I figured it was necessary to spread the joy.  Among my list of guilty pleasures, joined by Gilmore Girls, Starbucks fraps, and Cosmopolitan magazine, Boiling Crab reigns supreme.  Though not particularly a low-cholesterol food choice, every person has his or her own weakness: mine just happens to be this.  Thank God the Cajun seafood movement decided to travel to the west coast because local San Jose’ers probably couldn’t have thought of the recipe themselves (myself included.)  And although there are different Cajun restaurants other than BC, its crazy addicting sauce is what tops all the others. 

After much debate with myself each time I dine here, I think I’ve finally figured out my “usual.”  Although the Dungeness crab is divine, it’s a hassle to crack everything, and as tasty as the crawfish is also, it’s just not as meaty as I’d like it to be.  Hence, I choose to start off with half a dozen raw oysters followed by a pound of simple yet succulent shrimp as my main course.  Like I said, the sauce is way addicting for my own good.  Although all the sauces are delicious, the sauce I’m pertaining to is “the whole sha-bang” which is Cajun, lemon pepper and garlic butter all combined.  I can't exactly pinpoint what the secret ingredients might include, though if I had to venture a guess, I would say either the natural juices that come from the actual seafood plus extra garlic or crack cocaine perhaps?  And my mood goes back and forth between non-spicy and mild flavoring; I’m not gangster enough to eat XXX spicy but I do always watch my boo eat it with no sweat at all.  All the side dishes are essential too in order to fully engage in the Boiling Crab experience: either Cajun fries or sweet potato fries, corn on the cob thrown into the bag along with the seafood, and occasionally, I order a side of rice as well because I’m still Asian after all.  The only downside I can put my finger on is probably the garlic breath you’re cursed with by the end of your meal; it would be smart not to make any plans after eating at BC i.e. blind dates, job interviews, or meeting the future in-laws.

The only BC location in Nor-cal is east San Jose, which is a little bit of a buzz kill: the restaurant is way too small, the usual wait of 1.5 hours is excruciatingly long, and it’s out of the way for most Bay Area citizens.  And I heard through the grapevine that they’re opening up another location but also in eastside? Can someone confirm this for me? And then explain to me why it’s only two minutes away from the original?  I’m seriously shaking my head over that one.  Inside Boiling Crab there are plasma TV’s everywhere you turn, lots of cheaply priced beer and creative fisherman style decoration, but I believe the biggest business mistake made: the writing on the walls.  Customers are allowed to tag the walls with their own personal creations and messages, but with the first swipe of that Sharpie on their grand opening, it only turned a casual dining spot into instantly ghetto terrain with drawings of penises, ugly ass “graffiti” and the “will you go to Sadie’s with me?” in the corner.  Which is exactly why I prefer to order to-go and enjoy it in the comfort of my own home.  No long waits, no concerns of bumping into acquaintances you’d rather not bump into because in eastside, you know it’s bound to happen, and no squeezing into the tiny booths! Just me, myself, and the whole sha-bang!

Falafel's Drive-In

San Jose’s best kept secret: Falafel’s Drive-In.  Actually, it’s not exactly a secret because this place gets pretty packed, but more so you’ll miss it if you don’t look closely.  At first glance it has “hole-in-the-wall” written all over it, but given the long lines and crowded seating area, you’re just certain it’ll be good.  Falafel’s was featured in one of the most aesthetically pleasing shows on The Food Network, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and there’s a legit reason for it: they house the best falafels in south bay!  Crispy on the outside, soft and filling on the inside, these falafels taste like freakin’ meatballs, I swear.  It’s like a breath of fresh air when a number of Middle Eastern places around here serve falafels that taste like plastic, I’m not gonna mention any names.  Can’t ever go wrong with the falafel sandwich with extra hot sauce ($4!) and I enjoy pairing it with either a side of onion rings or pita chips.  Did I mention they have a banana-chocolate shake? Yes, banana-chocolate.  At first sip, memories of my childhood come rushing back and all I'm left to imagine are blue skies and skipping.