Carpo's...

Reference to non-locals in the know: Walk in and make a right, you will then find the hidden counter where you order. I can see how locals would be attached to this place. Capros gives the same feeling the luncheon counter at Woolworth's used to give me, it's amazing in a nostalgic sense...it's humdrum in a gastronomy sense.



There was no line when we got here around 5pm on a Saturday summer evening, but the parking lot was definitely packed. It looked totally old school Italian restaurant from the outside, but more like a cafeteria on the inside. Frommers listed that "locals line up out the door for their seafood..." with that statement I sure as hell thought there'd be more than calamari and chips ($9.75) and fish and chips ($9.50) and a shrimp and crab sandwich on the menu.

One of those TGIFridays vibrating coaster pagers are placed in your hand and you're on to the adventure of finding a table. With a hunter green cafeteria tray, napkin dispenser, complimentary bread basket (of multi-grain bread), salt and pepper, there was barely any elbow room at the tables against the back window'ed wall. Hence the reason I gave my cup of ice water the sleeper hold and it went flying onto the floor.



The food was...gratifying. My beer battered fish was way more reminiscent of that heavily battered Chinese deep fried prawn than any fish and chips I've had. It was fried until a DARK golden colour and the cod was nice and moist. Or, it was just jizzing water from its previously frozen existence. There was a side of coleslaw, which I don't normally like, but this one was lightly dressed. I actually ate it. The clam chowder had nice chunks of supple potatoes, nice consistency to the soup and with a few pieces of clams floating about.



It's simple. It's affordable. It's attachment to memories that probably keeps the locals coming back.

2400 Porter St
Soquel, CA 95073

(831) 476-6260

$0.99 Store -- Basmati...

It probably doesn't make sense if you have a spouse and minion spawn to buy a small bag of rice for $1. But, for a gal flying solo...it's the perfect size.

When you're looking for a switch up from beans and rice, Basmati and lentils with a little Madras curry mix is a great alternative. Yes, it's technically beans and rice all over again, but at least it'll wake up that clam-like tongue of yours. I bought the white Basmati, but they also had brown for you health-nutters. Although with less than $5 in my pocket at any given time, I don't have room for health. I need sustenance.

I threw in some chicken legs stewed in tomato sauce.

$0.99 - SoyJoy....

Let's just say that I now know why I haven't seen the ads for Soy Joy in a very very long time. These things are gross. They could never replace Nature Valley bars, which is one of the rumors that was on the street.

The texture is the equivalent to biting into a warm loaf of tofu fresh off the shelf. Oh, with the "flavoring" of fresh raisins and almond. Raisins and almonds my tuchus. If this is what vegetarians and vegans are eating, no wonder everytime I see them they look as if they're about to pass out. Minus the fact they have no energy from the lack of animal flesh.

It was only $0.59. This was definitely a miss.

New Station...

For a long time this was my favorite Chinese food place, especially after a good doin' the grown up session. And for that reason, I kept it a secret. For those who were fortunate enough to find themselves on the opposite side of the table, noshing away with me, they were sworn to shut the fuck up. However, my last visit was so shocking that it left my mouth open long enough for flies to lay their larvae inside of it.



I normally order combo plates for lunch, keeping the traditional Chinese fare for dinner. It's quick and I don't have to sit amongst Sacramento's version of the Chronicles of Riddick; state workers. State workers haunt this place. Since I've eaten here several times, I knew the portions and the flavor wouldn't fail me. I also knew the $5.75 wouldn't fail me. But, when they set down the plate before our eyes, my bottom lip poked out and began to quiver. What I had in front of me was a very generous portion of rice and noodles and five...count them...five little golden laquered nuggets of pork. One dollar per nugget. That seems to be the message they're sending here.



Now, Asian Garden Two is my favorite spot and I'll be sure to let everyone know about New Station.