Travel


Best Pasta in the South Bay

pictured: Fettucine Bianco from Bella Saratoga, in Saratoga, Ca. This is one of my favorite pasta dishes in the South Bay /

One of my favorite meals is a yummy plate of pasta. I love all types of pasta dishes, and you will find me ordering pasta in restaurants, as well as cooking it myself at home. Therefore, it is only natural that I have a list of the best pasta restaurants in the South Bay!

I grew up eating pasta since my ancestors came here from Italy. Fun fact, I am one hundred percent of Italian decent! So, I would like to consider myself an expert on delicious pasta and how it should be cooked, as well as the best sauces.

So, if you live near San Jose, and you love pasta, let’s talk about the best pasta! Yum!!

My favorite pasta restaurants in the South Bay, listed in alphabetical order.

  • Aldo’s Ristorante & Bar
    • 14109 Winchester Blvd., Los Gatos, CA
    • Favorites: Tortellini alla Tommaso, Rigatoni Paesani, and Tagliatelle alla Aldo. Get the cannoli!
  • Bella Saratoga
    • 14503 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA
    • Favorites: Fettucine Bianco, Bolognese, and Chicken Mushroom Linguine.
  • Florentine Trattoria
    • 14510 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA
    • Favorites: Half & Half, Ravioli, and classic Bolognese. Also, get the lemoncello dessert!
  • Italian Brothers Restaurant
    • 330 No Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos, CA
    • Favorites: Pappardelle Salsiccia e Funghi, Rigatoni Pesto, and Rigatoni Mafiosa
  • Sorelle Italian Bistro
    • 915 San Tomas Aquino Road, Campbell, CA
    • Favorites: Sorelle Short Rib Bolognese, Linguini with grilled jumbo shrimp, Traditional meat sauce, and get the cannoli!

Do you have any favorite pasta restaurants in the southern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area? If so, feel free to share in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by, and eat the pasta!

XOXO

Cathy

pictured below: Half and Half from Florentine Trattoria


Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum San Jose

rosicrucian egyptian museum san jose review

wearing: blue tee / statement earrings / black handbag / black belt / shorts (similar here) / silver bracelet / summer nail polish / sneakers / ankle bracelet /

Egypt’s history is absolutely fascinating, and we are fortunate to have a fabulous museum which celebrates this ancient civilization in San Jose. If you are local to the Bay Area, and you have not visited the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum yet, what are you waiting for? Go now! If you plan to visit the area, be sure to schedule a visit in your itinerary.

My grades in history were not that great, in fact, when I was in school it was my least favorite subject. This actually makes me laugh now because as an adult, I love history! I actively seek out historical information and I can spend hours diving deep into history. I wish I could do that when I was in school! haha To be frank, there was only one historical subject which fascinated me when I was in school, and that was Egyptian history.

In the sixth grade, my teacher had visited Egypt several times and was able to teach us about it with her personal experience. She even showed us her personal slides taken during many of her visits! It was amazing and I was extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated teacher. This is why I loved Egyptian history; she really made it come alive as compared to all of the other histories I found boring in school. Since I enjoyed Egyptian history, my Mom and my best friends’ mom took us both to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum so we could see artifacts in person. My friend I bought earrings in the gift shop and really enjoyed the visit.

Although the gift shop does not seem to exist anymore, the museum has grown over the decades and includes genuine artifacts as well as casts of original artifacts. The description by each item will let you know which it is. Since my mom took me here, I felt it was only natural that I bring my kids here too. I wish I had done it sooner! They studied Egypt in middle school and now they are in high school and college. Is this a hashtag mom fail? Yikes! But I digress. . .

We spent about two hours at the museum but could have easily stayed longer. There are several levels to look through and the museum also has an exhibit on Alchemy which the museum plans to expand into its’ own museum. Alchemy is directly tied to Egyptian history so it will be incredible when it is complete.

One of my favorite things inside the museum is the recreation of a tomb. You can walk through the cave-like tomb and see what it is like inside of one located in Egypt. They even created the paintings and markings.

In addition to just viewing artifacts and learning history, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has been thoughtful in their artifact descriptions. I loved seeing how history is similar to modern day as well as how it repeats itself. You can even see an example of how clear cutting created climate change! Please read the photo below as an example.

In addition to the museum inside, there is more to learn in the museum gardens. The museum displays an outdoor version of Senet, an ancient game, as well as plants and other objects which offer descriptions of how they fit into Egypt’s rich history.

I recommend arriving a little bit early to the museum so you can enjoy the outdoor gardens before going inside. They are really beautiful and interesting!

You can learn more, and plan your visit, by visiting the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum’s website at EgyptianMuseum.org.

If you are looking for a yummy place to eat before or after your visit to the museum, I highly recommend Park Station Hashery which is on the corner of Naglee and Park Ave. They have delicious brunch items. My favorite is the breakfast burrito which appears on the specials. The regular menu is good too!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy your visit!

XOXO

Cathy


Places to eat in Long Beach California

Pictured: Bruschetta from Utopia

Our trip to Long Beach was short and sweet, but that does not mean we didn’t find plenty of yummy places to eat during our stay. We usually try to stay away from chain restaurants we can eat at home. So, we scour the internet and read the reviews of places we want to try. I was able to find a few fabulous restaurants which I am featuring here and are worthy of your time! Next time you are in Long Beach, be sure to try these restaurants! In my opinion, these are the best restaurants in Long Beach, California.

Best Breakfast: East Village Cafe

The coffee always tastes better at independent coffee shops, and the East Village Cafe is no different. They had the freshest brew and many different types of coffee drinks to choose from. I enjoyed a classic latte while my oldest is a vanilla latte kind of girl and my middle child enjoys getting something new and different every day. She loved everything she ordered! Do you know what else we loved? The food! They make the fluffiest, freshest, most delicious eggs! Love! East Village Cafe is a must-try next time you are in Long Beach.

Also want to add: love the local vibe and friendly faces who work there.

Best Lunch: Long Beach Taco Company

Tacos! This place has delicious food in every category. My favorite were the seasoned pork tacos. Long Beach Taco Company is a must-try next time you are in Long Beach. My daughter also loved the Jalapeno Poppers. Yum!

Best Dinner: Thai District

Thai District is tucked around the corner from its’ address, so while slightly tricky to find for tourists like us, it was worth the confusion. The food was SO GOOD! I highly recommend adding toasted tofu and getting your spice level to at least a two. In addition to delicious food, the service was amazing. Everyone was so nice and helpful! The waiter talked us into moving the spice level to a two and I am so happy he did. The rice was perfect, as was everything else. We also enjoyed a chicken curry dish which isn’t pictured. This is a must-eat-at place in Long Beach! Love!

Also Loved: Utopia

Feeling fancy yet chill? Utopia is your place! I would definitely eat dinner here again. The mushroom risotto was to-die-for, and my daughter’s tiramisu was amazing. I highly recommend enjoying your dinner on the patio under the vine canopy. It was relaxing and chill.

Also Loved: Parker Lighthouse

You have to have dinner on the pier at least once! Parker Lighthouse is the best place for both a delicious meal and waterfront views. My daughter had the cauliflower steak and she told me it was absolutely delicious. She would love to have it again! I enjoyed clam chowder and sushi, which were both tasty. I highly recommend indulging one night at Parkers Lighthouse.

Well, there’s my list! We ate at several additional restaurants, but these were our favorites, and the ones we would visit again. I hope you enjoy your trip to Long Beach!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

pictured below: dessert at Utopia