Muffins from Nourish Baking

Nourish is a local San Francisco wholesale bakery that makes a limited number of products: just four varieties of healthy mini muffins and breakfast bread loaves.

Everything they produce is gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, no added-sugar, only healthy fats, etc, etc.  This makes them rather nutritionally dense, and even the mini products have 3 grams of protein with only 1 gram of sugar.  Why would anyone want to make a product like this?

The answer is that the baker is a lover of baked goods, who suffers from Type-II diabetes, so she adapted by creating her own treats that are refined sugar free, using coconut nectar and coconut sugar instead.  And grain free, because grains are high carb, making them gluten-free, as well.  Since she's removing all the gunk, they are also dairy-free (although not vegan, they do have eggs).  And she uses only virgin coconut oil and nut oils for fats.

Ok, good reason.  I wouldn't ever have sought these out, but I was given a package of each flavor from a generous co-worker, so I obviously had to try them.  You can find Nourish products at a handful of specialty markets around San Francisco, including Rainbow Grocery.

Mini Muffin 2-packs.

I'll admit that I went into these quite skeptical.  Sure, I love my baked goods, but I'm pretty particular.  With muffins, I want a moist interior and a crispy top.  And I'm sorry, but gluten-free goods just generally aren't as good.  And dairy-free?  You've got to be kidding me.  No added sugar?  Please.  Flour, butter, cream, and sugar make up way too high of a percentage of my diet.

But ... I'll give anything a chance.  And honestly, I know my diet isn't good for me.  If I could find healthier treats that I actually like, well, it would be a good thing.

The products come as mini-muffins in 2-packs, bags of a dozen mini muffins, or as mini loafs.  I had the 2-packs of mini muffins.

I could tell they didn't have crispy tops from the start, but I was able to overlook that and move on.  However, they were all strangely moist and gummy, which wasn't great, but is rather expected in a packaged product.

Banana Chia Chocolate Chip.

"Real bananas, dates, pecans and dairy-free chocolate make these muffins a satisfying treat that requires no added sweetener."

I started with the most decadent sounding one, since it had chocolate.  I figured chocolate would counteract all the healthy ingredients.

I liked it more than I expected.  The chocolate (non-dairy) was the winning component, as I hoped.  It came in large chunks, which was a bit surprising given the mini muffin size, but meant a very high percentage of the muffin was actually chocolate.  Yes!

I also loved the crunch from the pecans.

The base basically tasted like, well, banana bread, which I never really love, but it was decent, nice banana flavor, although it had a slight grittiness and bitterness to it, presumably from the chia seeds and almond meal.

This was much more successful that I anticipated, so I was actually eager to move on to the next flavor.  Banana Chia Chocolate Chip was my second favorite overall.

Heirloom Carrot.

"Tastes just like old-fashioned carrot cake – you’ll never miss the flour, sugar or dairy!"

Next I moved on to the one I was most excited for: heirloom carrot, as it promised to be like carrot cake!  Of course, part of what I like about carrot cake is cream cheese frosting, which this obviously had none of, but it did have walnuts, raisins, and all the right spicing (cinnamon, nutmeg).

The strange moisture level worked well here, since it was like a moist carrot cake.  My favorite carrot cakes are super moist from adding pineapple, and this was similar effect.  And I liked the crunch of the nuts.

But, as I expected, it was a bit plain for me on its own.  Luckily I had some cream cheese buttercream in my freezer.  Because, um, doesn't everyone?  I slathered a little on, and then I was quite happy.  I'm not good at healthy.

This was my favorite.

Pumpkin Spice Streusel.

"Fresh grated ginger makes this pumpkin spice muffin densely rich and decadent."

Ok, I lied.  Perhaps I was most excited for this one.  I'm a sucker for streusel.

The base muffin is made with real pumpkin puree and of course, pumpkin spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger).  It is loaded up with additional ginger for some zing.  The much-anticipated streusel uses almonds for the crunch, since there are no oats.

It was nicely spiced, but I don't really love pumpkin spice (I know, October just isn't as exciting for me as for some).  And ... the "streusel" was just a couple almonds, not at all the crunchy, sugary top I was hoping for.

My second to least favorite, and I wouldn't get another.

Lemon Chia Seed.

"Full of lemon flavor with a cake-like texture and a buttery finish from organic coconut oil."

And finally, the one I was least excited for, since I dislike both chia and lemon flavor generally.  There was no chocolate, nuts, or other add-ins to save it.

And ... it was as expected.  It was lemony, which wasn't awful, but it was loaded up with chia seeds, which I just don't like.  If you like chia seeds, and you like lemon poppyseed muffins, perhaps this is for you, but it just wasn't my type of muffin, making it my least favorite.

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Buster's Cheese Steak

By now you probably have noticed that I've never reviewed a cheese steak before.  I've reviewed cheese steak shops, like Phat Philly, but, uh, I reviewed their amazing churros, their onion rings, and of course, the cheddar beer fries.  But cheese steak?  Not my thing.

Ojan however likes cheese steaks.  And after months, literally months, of him talking about wanting a cheese steak, I finally suggested it one day.  It was a beautiful day, so we took a walk to Buster's, located in North Beach.

Menu.

The menu at Buster's is pretty simple: cheese steaks, burgers, and hot dogs.  There are options to add different toppings, but, for the most part, the offerings are classic.  For sides, you can get fries (topped with cheese or chili if you wish).  No frills, but, they claim to serve "no more overcooked meat from a national fast food chain loaded with preservatives" and "any way you want it ... any way you like it".

You order at the counter, and the cheese steak is made to order, ready within minutes, by the single line cook.  The only other staff member is the person working the register.

Service was rather horrible, myself and other patrons were standing there for quite some time before being acknowledged by the employee who was refilling squirt bottles and never looked our way.  It really might have been 6 or 7 minutes before she acknowledged us.  Meanwhile, the cook was a flury of activity.  I enjoyed watching him quickly assemble the cheese steaks and burgers.

The Sauces!

One real reason I selected Buster's was the sauce line up.  Yelpers all commented about how much they loved the sauce selection.  I sorta expected that implied the sauces were housemade or something, but, alas, I do not think they were.  The selection included basic ketchup, mustards, and bbq along with several different hot sauces.  None tasted like anything special, and each and every squirt bottle was horribly sticky.  I was slightly grossed out, but, this is kinda common with condiment bottles at places like this, as I noted regarding the sauces at Phat Philly and the salsas at Nick's Crispy Tacos.

But, Yelpers give the place 4 stars overall, which is certainly saying something.

Indoor Seating.

Inside is a counter along the window, and a counter along where the register is.  There are only a handful of seats, but pretty much everyone got their cheese steaks to go anyway.

Outdoor Seating.

Outside on the sidewalk were exactly two tables.  Luckily for us, one was empty when we arrived, so I had Ojan snag it while I went inside to order (and wait).

Mushroom Philly Cheese Steak, Small. $7.35.

And finally, the cheese steak.

First, we needed to select the protein: chicken or steak.  We clearly went for steak, who gets chicken?

Next, cheese.  Here the options were more numerous: Cheddar, White American, Provolone, Swiss, Pepper Jack, or Cheese Wiz.  Since this adventure was much more for Ojan, not me, I left him to make this decision, and, he went for the Wiz.  Classic.

The basic cheese steak comes with onions (for $6.85), but we upgraded to include mushrooms, since we both like them.  Other options included a strange "North Beach" version with spinach and zucchini, or the "Whole Sub California" with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayo.

The cheese steak was well wrapped in foil, and handed over moments after leaving the grill.  It was hot.  I dug in, and burnt myself immediately.  Doh.

As you can see above, it was a greasy creation.  Ojan's very first comment: "I kinda feel like I'm chewing into oil".   His ending comment: "Yeah, it was just too greasy".  I agreed.  The grease didn't seem to come from the cheese, so it clearly came from the cooking process.  It was very, very messy, as oil just dripped out from everywhere.

The bun was slightly toasted, soft enough, not notable or remarkable, except that, well, it was covered in grease.  The meat was thinly sliced, and actually seemed decent quality.  No gristle, no chunks of fat, just meat.  The onions were my favorite part, beautifully grilled.  I have a thing for grilled onions.  The mushrooms were thinly sliced, pretty generic like pizza topping mushrooms, but, I appreciated them.  Both Ojan and I agreed that it needed more onions.

And finally, the cheese.  Cheese Wiz is Cheese Wiz, so there isn't much to say about that, except, it really wasn't applied very well.  All the cheese was in a clump in the bottom, not distributed with the meat and veggies.

Sandwiches are in two sizes, "small" or "large".  I did my research, and knew that even the "small" was a full size sandwich, and since I only wanted a few bites, I knew a small would be plenty.    The $7.35 price was reasonable for the quality.  A large, which would include another segment, is $9.15, and, if you were splitting with another person and adding in some fries, would easily make for a meal for both of you.

Overall, it was fine, but not remarkable in any way, and we don't really have any reason to return.

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David's Tea

I haven't ever reviewed a tea shop before, but I've been really impressed by the tea at David's Tea, so I wanted to share.

David's Tea shops are found throughout the United States and Canada.

David's Tea opened up in San Francisco a few years ago in the Westfield mall near my house (and another location on Polk street, and another in Noe Valley).  I wasn't familiar with the brand before, but they carry a very large variety of teas: black, green, white, rooibos, herbals, you name it.  In every category they have traditional teas, but also a slew of dessert teas that sound absolutely incredible.  They have one called Birthday Cake that actually contains rainbow sprinkles, another called Red Velvet Cake that smells exactly like a cake, a Crème Caramel that has bits of caramel in it, etc.  They all sound absolutely amazing, particularly given my love of dessert.

They also always feature two teas of the day, one hot and one iced, which you are offered samples of the moment you walk in the door.  I've enjoyed getting to try so many different teas this way.

The David's Tea locations are primarily retail stores selling loose leaf tea and accessories, but they also sell individual cups or pots of tea.  Most patrons are there to buy tea to bring home, so the fresh brewed tea area is really just a side thing, with barely any counter space or signage devoted to it.

The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, and will ask you questions about what sorts of teas you like, and start bringing down canisters of tea for you to smell, to help you narrow in on a selection.  It can be a bit overwhelming, as they have soooo many choices.   But they really do seem to want to help you find your perfect tea.  This has been true at every location I've visited, in both San Francisco and the Boston area.

The teas are fun and unique, so if you have a tea drinker in your life, definitely check it out sometime.  Side note: they also make the best travel mug ever, the "timolino".  I'm not one to market random products, but I bought one of these for Ojan for a Christmas gift a few years ago, borrowed it once, and have pretty much refused to give it back.  The thing is magic: it keeps my coffee hot literally all day long.  Not just 1-2 hours, not just lukewarm.  Piping hot.  For hours.  It is also a really sleek design, easy to throw into my purse, super comfortable in my hand.  It is my constant companion around the city.  For times when I actually brew tea, it also has a built-in infuser, and even a compartment to store a tea bag or extra tea.  It is an amazing mug.  Highly recommended.

Iced

Iced Forever Nuts Tea.  $3.

It was a rare hot San Francisco evening when I first walked by David's, and the idea of an iced tea was really appealing.  So I stopped in, and found that you can get any tea prepared, hot or iced, for $3.  Perfect!  I asked for recommendations for a not caffeinated iced tea, and the woman working gave me a slew of choices.  She brought each down for me to smell.  But it was her description of this one that sold me: "it tastes exactly like an oatmeal raisin cookie" she said.  Dessert in a cup!

As it brewed, I was intrigued.  Why was it pink?  The answer: beetroot!  It also had almonds, apples, and cinnamon.  And indeed, it did taste a lot like an oatmeal raisin cookie.

She also asked if I wanted any milk in it.  I've never put milk in iced tea, but it actually sounded like a good idea with this, in a milk and cookies sort of way.  I think she detected my hesitation and told me she'd never had milk in iced tea until she worked there, but discovered that some iced teas take the milk really well, and this was one she really liked with the milk.  I decided to take her suggestion, and added soy milk.  It was even better, as it added a creaminess.

I really enjoyed this, and it made me wish we had summer days like that more often.  Hard to describe the flavor exactly, but yes, it was a bit nutty, and with the milk and sugar, a bit like a oatmeal cookie.  Really fascinating and delicious.  I'd certainly get another.

I bought some loose leaf Forever Nuts to bring home, intending to make myself more iced teas when the mood struck.  I never got ambitious enough to make it iced, but served it hot instead, slightly sweetened, with soy milk.  It really makes for such a sweet treat when you want a little bit of liquid indulgence.  It also pairs nicely with real cookies, particularly iced sugar cookies, as I soon discovered.

This is my goto David's tea.

Cocomint Cream Tea, Iced.  $3.

My next visit was inspired by another hot day, again perfect for iced tea.  I returned, eager to have another experience like my first, an iced tea, with soy milk.
I asked for a recommendation, and was easily overwhelmed.  So many great teas to choose from!

After smelling about 15 different teas, I settled on a new herbal holiday tea: Cocomint Cream.

It contained apple, coconut, peppermint, and blackberry leaves.  The coconut flavor was very pronounced, and went really well with the mint.  I didn't taste the blackberry or apple.

I tried a few sips before having the barista add the milk.  It was really quite good, and had an amazing aroma.  I had the milk added since I was in the mood for it, but I think it was better without the milk, as it totally drowned out the more subtle herbal flavors.  I probably wouldn't get it again.

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• Black
• Chocolate Chili Chai.  Made with black tea, chocolate and ancho and Aleppo chilis.  It had some subtle chocolate flavor, and some kick, but was not really my thing.
• Green
• Grilled Pineapple.  Made with green tea and rooibos tea, plus candied pineapple bites, dried pineapple pieces, blackberry leaves, and toasted rice?  This was super refreshing and sweet, really perfect as an iced tea, and would be great on a summer day.
• Rooibos
• Pink Lemonade.  Roobios tea, with hibiscus, mango, lemon peel, lemon myrtle, lemongrass.  It is sweetened with both stevia and sugar.  Fairly refreshing, it reminded me of an Arnold Palmer, which, makes sense, given that it is tea and lemonade.  Neither the tea nor the lemonade were very strong however.

Hot Teas

Birthday Cake Tea, Hot, $3.

When I was in Boston one winter, I decided to somehow bypass Dunkin' Donuts, and head to David's Tea to get my warm, sweet drink instead.  I know, shocking, but somehow warm tea sounded better to me.

I went for the "Birthday Cake" tea, because, honestly, how do you not try a tea called "Birthday Cake"?  This insane creation is a blend of red and green Rooibos teas, along with ... sprinkles and ice cream bits.  For real.  The tea mix itself contains dairy.  And the sprinkles are very visible in the mix.  The aroma of it is unmistakable.  This is a cake!
The aroma was stronger than the flavor however.  It did taste of cake, but I found it needed some soy milk and agave to really amp it up.  I enjoyed it, but probably would not get again.

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• Black
• Banana Dream Pie.  Ok, this one sounded amazing, so I actually ordered a cup of hot tea one day when I was browsing in the store.  Made with black tea, cocoa nibs, banana pieces, white chocolate, and cocoa powder.  But, I just didn't get much banana, nor chocolate flavor from it.  Wouldn't get again, and I wished I had sampled it first!
• Brazillionaire.  Made with black tea, Brazil nuts, golden raisins, and coconut chips.  The aroma on this was amazing.  It was nutty, slightly sweet, with a subtle coconut thing going on.  Very tasty.  I think it would have also been good iced.  And would tolerate milk pretty well too.
• Green
• Merry Cranberry.  This is a holiday tea, made with green tea, cranberry, apple, mistletoe leaves, star anise, cinnamon, blackberry leaves.  A fairly complex tea, fruity, but spicy.  Very festive.
• Rooibos
• Creme Caramel Rooibos.  Made with rooibos tea and bits of caramel.  This was delightful!  Sweet, balanced, delicious.  It was as good as the name implied it would be.  I think it would be great with some milk too.
• Green & Fruity (sweetened).  Made from a mix of both red and green rooibos, with apple, mango, papaya.  I hadn't ever had green rooibos before, but this did remind me a lot of a standard green tea.  I didn't get any of the depth of flavor you expect from a red rooibos.  And it had some subtle fruity tones.  I wouldn't normally go for a tea like this, and actually got it for Ojan, but I of course tried it.  For fruity green tea drinkers looking for something with less caffeine, I could see it being a good choice.  When she asked if I wanted it sweetened, I hesitated, and she said it was best that way.  And since Ojan likes sweet tea, I said yes.  She added several pumps of their agave syrup, which made it way, way too sweet for me.  Ojan didn't really give me much of a review of it, so I think he didn't care for it.  Whoops
• Herbal
• Mulberry Magic.  Made with mulberry leaf, macadamia nuts.  This had a nice nutty flavor to it.  I think it would have been tasty with some soy milk added.

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