New year, new Foodist...and that's me, Adrienne!

Hi fellow foodie! My name is Adrienne, and I’m absolutely delighted to introduce myself as your new Peninsula Foodist. Growing up with a brother allergic to nearly everything – emphasis on everything (peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, gluten, soy, legumes, eggs, shellfish and more) – my parents were tasked with the near-impossible challenge of finding innovative ways to feed him, something I became very invested in because undoubtedly whatever was feeding him was also feeding me.

Then in my middle school years, my parents splurged on cable TV (meaning I could finally watch Food Network and Guy Fieri!), and my perspective on food profoundly changed. Food wasn’t just something you made in your house for nutritional reasons – it was also a destination experience with countless stories behind it.

In high school, I started my own baking blog, documenting my adventures creating wacky baked goods like Cheetos macarons and poop-emoji cupcakes. I wanted to go to culinary school, but after a culinary internship at the Mountain View Google campus kitchens, I realized I wasn’t cut out for the sweaty, physically demanding world of hospitality and preferred writing about food. So I got my journalism degree – which led me here, to the Peninsula Foodist.

I am beyond excited to take you with me as I delve into the food scene of the area I grew up in, from the unassuming hole-in-the-walls to the highly acclaimed fine-dining restaurants and everything in between. I’ll be telling you the stories behind the food, the how and why of the Peninsula’s chefs and tastemakers.

Not only do I want to get to know the Bay Area’s diverse food scene better – I also want to get to know YOU. What food stories do you want to read? Do you want to see more restaurant roundups, interviews with chefs, taste tests or something else? Is there a city, special diet or cuisine you’d like to learn more about? My inbox is always open (amitchel@embarcaderomedia.org), and I can’t wait to hear from you!

Stay tasty,
Adrienne

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Chicken meatballs that are the subject of an ongoing lawsuit

Sunday night I was prepared for the worst. I was about to eat an appetizer that was allegedly so spicy, a San Jose doctor sued the restaurant for permanent damage to her vocal cords, esophagus and the inside of her right nostril.

Bring it on.

The appetizer in question? Dragon Balls from Coup de Thai in Los Gatos. Priced at $11, the description was as follows: “spicy chicken balls fried with mint, shallot, green onion, cilantro, kaffir lime leaves, and rice powder served with side of cucumber, cilantro and dry chili.” Interestingly, the menu classified the dish as just “spicy,” compared to some other offerings designated as “super spicy."

The Dragon Balls arrived quickly and were presented quite plainly. For something at the center of an ongoing lawsuit, it looked simply underwhelming. Where was the bright red color? The embers of fire I expected to be shooting out of them? It was just six brown, hush puppy-esque morsels.

But perhaps the taste would tell a different story.

Taking a bite, I was surprised by the texture. The outside was crisp and the inside was juicy (unlike most chicken meatballs which tend to be dry and devoid of textural interest). While the Dragon Balls didn’t look like much from the outside, the flavor was superb – herbaceous, bright and citrusy with a hint of spice.

Yes, just a hint. It didn’t even make my nose run.

So if you’re looking for a dish that’ll make your mouth burn, eyes water and heart palpitate, Dragon Balls at Coup de Thai is not the dish for you. But if you find yourself in Los Gatos and want a tasty chicken meatball, try it out.

For more Dragon Ball coverage, check out our Instagram, @peninsulafoodist.

Coup de Thai, 137 N Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos; 408-442-5977, Instagram: @coupdethai.