Food Savvy Tourist

Bad food in London?

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Whoever says food in London is abysmal, expensive and simply lacking in variety, doesn't not know what they're talking about. I am currently on an extensive trip in the UK visiting friends and family, and have been down to London several times, a city I had lived in for more than 11 years. I have to say that I was bowled over by some of the restaurants I visited - some old favourites I hadn't visited before, and some new kids on the culinary block.

I plan to blog more extensively about this later, but here are some of my favourites so far - Yoshino- a delightful little sushi place near Regent Street, and Siam Central, an immensely popular and yummy Thai place, on Charlotte Street.

Have you been to these restaurants? What did you think?

World Market's Chili Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Have you tried it? I'd heard a lot about the chocolate-chili combo, especially served in upscale Mexican restaurants, so I did not expect to find it packaged up in my local World Market. World Market's Chili Chipotle Chocolate Bar is simply divine. Love how the hotness kicks in after allowing you to enjoy the luscious and spicy 64% cacao. I envisage it going really well with a full-bodied red, what are your thoughts? I'd post a picture, but I devoured it in minutes.

World Market Brand - Chipotle Chocolate Bar - $1.99

Some Thai recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:46:00 +0000

The above picture is courtesy of Kate R on Yelp - the appetizer 'Dancing Prawns'

I would like to rave about two places in particular. One is situated in Redwood City, sandwiched between generic shops in a rather nondescript mall. But gems are usually hidden like this, and all thanks to Yelp for pointing this one out. Although it does not look like much from the exterior, Karakade, as this restaurant is called, is very cute inside, attracting a smart and young clientele in the know. Bright colors and tasteful decor increase your appetite once you walk in. Karakade also provides take out, which I have been taking out at least once a month, and they never fail to disappoint.

The portions and the quality of the food are both highly commendable. Classics like red and green curry prevail and are delicious, but try the spicy eggplant with tofu. Or chicken basil noodles, or the amazingly aromatic garlic prawns. The food is amazingly cheap given its quality, and if you live in the San Mateo County area, you certainly want to give this a try.

The above picture is courtesy of Amy L on Yelp - Siam Thai restaurant in hotel Parc 55

My second recommendation is 'Siam Thai' restaurant in downtown San Francisco. Like Karakade, it's a 'hole in the wall' kinda place, and is not in the least bit fancy. However, it is (at least structurally) part of the pretty smart Parc 55 hotel, and as a result, attracts plenty of tourists who want to eat well on a budget. Service is fast and courteous, and the dishes are really tasty. The prices are unbelievable as well.

Minutes from Union Square, this is the perfect place to have a hearty lunch or dinner before you embark on numerous city tours.

Karakade
Siam Thai - 55 Cyril Magnin St (inside Parc 55) between Eddy and Ellis, (415) 362-7456

(Almost) alcoholic mixed berries...

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Finding a dessert which would satisfy not only your taste buds but give you no guilty feelings about wanting seconds has always been a challenge for me. That was until I started reading the 'Pregnancy' magazine in the doctor's waiting room.

I learned about a fabulous sorbet on the market made by a company called 'Ciao Bella'. Now I was familiar with CB because I once purchased a variety ice-cream pack and it was simply divine. This upscale company does not compromise on the quality of its ingredients, and produces Italian-gelateria style ice-cream.

This particular flavor is called 'Blackberry Cabernet' and is touted as being a real wine substitute for those long and hard nine months. Or perhaps you don't even drink, and are simply looking for a refined and non-fat dessert option.

I'm not much of a sorbet person, but this I liked! The magnificent wine-colored concoction tastes sweet and tart at the same time, and is extremely grown-up. I believe it contains some wine but not nearly enough to affect your pregnancy. However, pregnant or not, try this out. It is perfect for the approaching summer, served with a selection of mixed berries (making it even healthier!). I bought this a week ago at Whole Foods at $2.79, a special offer. Normal retail is around $4.

Ciao Bella's Blackberry Cabernet, Whole Foods, $4 approximately.

Okay, so I disappeared...

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:56:00 +0000

But I had an excellent excuse. Yes, I've been working full-time, but so have trillions of other bloggers. I am proud to announce that I am expecting and only have 10 weeks to go. Between bratty 7th graders and and an ever-expanding uterus, I really have not been that motivated about sitting in front of the computer. But it's Spring Break, I'm on leave, and I intend to populate as much as web space I am entitled to in the next few months. Up until I am ready to hit the delivery suite.

Cute Italian in Sausalito

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:08:00 +0000

(Picture courtesy of sfeater.com)

Just returned from this cute and elegant little restaurant in Sausalito, Marin County. Sausalito itself was a discovery. I didn't expect to have such a good view of the San Francisco skyline from its quaint little downtown promenade called Bridgeway. Amidst tourist shops, jewelry stores and fine art galleries, one can find the Piccolo Teatro di Sausalito.

The interior is very enticing: a mahogany bar, hardwood floors, a fireplace, and soft recessed lighting. Smartly-uniformed waiters greet you graciously. The food is very flavorful and the selections are refreshingly different from those found in a standard Italian restaurant. The portions are not huge, however, and bread costs $2.5. In spite of that, the delicious and finely cooked food is definitely worth it. For two people, my recommendation would be to order three of the 'Small Bites' priced at $2.5, and three selections from the 'Primi' and 'Secondi'. This was enough for the both of us. With wine and a soft drink, the bill came to about $70.

Piccolo Teatro is located on 739 Bridgeway, Sausalito.

Happy Xmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Wishing all a very Happy Xmas, and a truly memorable rest of the Holiday season. This snap was taken at Union Square in San Francisco, just a couple of days before Xmas day 2008. People skating, singing carols, shopping, just taking in the atmosphere on a crisp night. Magical!

Whole foods delight

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:49:00 +0000

Thanksgiving came and went. We went to a neighbor's potluck, which turned out to be one of the most delicious nights of the holiday season. I made a 'Potato Savoyard' gratin (more about this delectable recipe later), which took hours of prep time, but was completely worth it. The effort made by our other neighbors was equally commendable. Apart from the staples of green beans, carrots, creamed corn, succulent ham and of course, turkey, there was stuffing souffle with pecans, gourmet sweet pumpkin pie, spiced apple cider, coffee, and Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

My rate of consumption of such holiday treats is showing no signs of deceleration. Having recently discovered the 'Whole Foods' deli section, we spend most Saturday lunchtimes at our local Whole Foods, mulling over the mouthwatering options. Lamb shanks with rosemary potatoes and shiitake mushrooms, or turkey quiche with mashed potatoes and herbs, teriyaki chicken, the choices just go on. The food from the deli counter in my opinion is sublime, filling, and satiates you like grandma's hearty cooking.

Of course, the strategically placed cake and pastry counter next to the hot deli counter ensures that you are bound to come back. We are absolutely hooked on the 'Mixed Berry Cake' that WF sell in three convenient sizes. Just try it, and I guarantee you will never ever buy any other cake again. Garnished with fresh berries and icing to kill for, this moist and stupendously delightful cake cheers your tongue up. Try it! The only caveat that not all WF stores carry identical cakes to each other, so if you don't find it at your local one, get them to find out your nearest store which does stock it.

Do you have any Whole Foods favorites? Especially for the holidays? Do you think that food there is overrated and too expensive? Or would you rather pay extra for the quality? Let us know...

Top Hot Dogs in Berkeley, CA

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I found this photo on a blog called ZeroDivide, and this summed up Top Dog for me.

I first went to Top Dog as a summer school student at Berkeley in 2003. A cheep and cheerful place with dogs to satisfy both poverty-stricken students and those with a bit more cash to spare. My second visit was in Oct 2008, and coincidentally, on a football game day at Berkeley (Cal v UCLA!). Berkeley was buzzing, and although the Bears won, Top Dog was bursting at the seams with fans from both sides.

There is no line here. There are two guys behind the grill, one minding all the meat, and one taking all the orders and miraculously remembering them in order. There are even veggie and healthier meat options. It's fast, economical, and delicious. What more do you need?

Top Dog also have a branch in Oakland, CA. Check out their website below. Have you been to Top Dog? What's your experience been like?

Top Dog

Xanh, Mountain View

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:02:00 +0000

Who'd have thought that the suburbs could have this much panache? Nestled among the many thriving eateries on Castro in Mountain View, is Xanh. Cool fusion Vietnamese cuisine offered in great style. You first enter an amazing New-York style lounge bar, dimly lit in electric blue, with a DJ churning House/cool RnB in the corner. The bar looks pretty busy and happening. Sleek, geometric, and ample white seating look striking against all the blue in this room. Huge Christmas tree-like glass balls hang from the ceiling. This is where you'd hang out with your crowd before the hostess whisks you into one of two main dining areas.

This was a Saturday night, and it could not have been more packed. However, the lighting in our dining room was a little too bright for my liking, especially compared to the dim coolness of the lounge up front. Anyway, the food made up for that.

The spicy and sour soup for $10 was ample and wildly aromatic. The only complaint was that it seemed warm rather than hot, and so we had to send it back for a quick zap. My main plate was 'Catfish in a Clay Pot'. It was perfectly marinated, exuding sweetness and spicy tones at the same time. Heavily laden with chillies, ginger, garlic, and possibly honey, it was heavenly with simple jasmine-steamed rice. The meal ended beautifully with a swig of impossibly sweet Vietnamese coffee, sweetened with condensed milk.

All in all, a stylish spot on Mountain View's main promenade, which offers flavorful food in attractive surroundings. If you just want to hang, have a martini while listening to top tunes, and not have to drive all the way to San Francisco, Xanh should be one of your choices.

Xanh

Long live Macs...

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 23:58:00 +0000

After inadvertently unleashing a virus onto our PC, we spent hours pouring over solutions on Majorgeeks.com, hoping against hope to rescue this home-built computer, which had been so good to us for 5 years. We turned to our old and rusty iBook, which was unbearably slow compared to the powerful PC which once ran alongside it. The PC was rescued, and began to work like a dream again, while we cruelly abandoned the iBook. Alas, it was not meant to be. The PC's hard drive started making sounds, and that's never a good thing. It died quite unceremoniously, and then we discovered we had no backups at all! Suddenly, as if by magic, it restarted itself and gave us its all for about 30 magical minutes; enough time for us to frantically back all our data up. Then, it was all over.

We are shamelessly back to our senile iBook again, and praying that it will hold on until we buy another computer. And just long enough for me to blog, even if the posts will be devoid of snazzy Photoshopped pictures. Needless to say, it will be another Mac.

A mansion in San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:00:00 +0000

All photos courtesy of EKphoto.com http://www.ekphoto.com/hamlin/

I was awestruck from the moment I walked in, both as an educator, and as a wedding guest.

The Hamlin School, an all-girls' independent school in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco is also known as Hamlin Mansion, a much sought-after special occasion venue in the city.
The building, which has its beginnings in the early 20th century, entraps your senses with its intricately carved wooden beams and paneling, captivating mosaic walls, and high ceiling with skylight. It is charming how the school hides its bookcases and student artwork behind the deep red curtains as it transforms itself from a haven of education into a centerpiece of decadent celebration. Keep walking through the library and into the solarium, and you are completely bowled over by the sweeping vistas of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge through its large bay windows. Walk up the stairs, and imagine yourself being transported back in time, looking down upon the hallway being attended to by uniformed staff.

The Hamlin School/Mansion is located on 2120 Broadway, San Francisco.

View of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Hamlin Mansion

Eight Wineries in One?

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:56:00 +0000

Photo courtesy of the Press Club website

At the bottom of the Four Seasons in San Francisco lies an unique concept. As we settled down for drinks at the lounge bar of the nearby Amber India restaurant (I'll blog about this later), friends told us about the Press Club.

Apparently this trendy venue, which opened on Sept 10 this year, has eight Californian vineyards rolled into one. You walk into a spacious and stylish tasting room which allows you to acquaint yourself with several wines. This seems like a wonderful alternative for both connoisseurs and amateurs to have the 'Napa experience' minus the long drive out there.

I think I'll pay a visit, but I like long drives and basking in the authentic milieu of wine country. Have you been to the Press Club? What did you think? Drop me a line here if you have or perhaps somewhere similar elsewhere.

The Press Club

Tracking flights through YAPTA

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:00:00 +0000

As per a recommendation by a user, I have now logged onto YAPTA, a website which allows you to track the price of flights you might want to take in the future. I am hoping to go to England at some point within the next four months, so all I did was enter the details, save the trip, and allow the website to find good fares for me. I guess this concept works best if you're flexible with your trip and can plan ahead. If I do get a ticket and register those details with YAPTA, they will notify me via email if there is a price drop for which I get credit I can use toward a future flight. Sounds good. Let's see how it works out over the next few months.

YAPTA

10 savvy travel sites

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:25:00 +0000

This slide show from fastcompany.com caught my eye. Introducing some great travel sites, I wonder if anyone out there has actually used ones like YAPTA or DOPPLR. For future posts, I hope to review some of these on this blog, and perhaps, even use them. The all-time favorite Tripadvisor, is not surprisingly, also on this list.

If you have used one or more of these websites, leave your feedback here.

'10 Hot Travel Websites'

Bar with a view in San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:24:00 +0000

p.s. This image is courtesy of the Grand Hyatt website.

Apparently there are lots of swanky high-rise bars in the city of San Francisco, such as the famed Harry Denton's Starlight Room, or the Top of the Mark for instance. While I planned to research other similar swanky hot spots and visit the aforementioned, my discovery of the Grandviews Lounge atop the Grand Hyatt near Union Square was quite accidental.

After having a reasonably nice dinner in Chinatown one Friday evening, and with plans of having a drink before we left for the suburbs, we gasped at the sight of a very chic lounge bar steps from Chinatown, only to be politely turned away because it had just closed. It was 9:50 pm! While why most eateries and bars close so early in SF is an intriguing myster, and fodder for another post at some future time, this disappointment spurred us on to a most wonderful discovery.

In a much earlier post, I had reminisced about discovering a wonderful lounge serving late night desserts and wine at the five star rated Peninsula Hotel in Chicago. I hoped to discover the same in San Francisco, and there it was - at the Grand Hyatt, on Stockton at Sutter.

The night was indeed very young, and we were very glad to find out that the Grandviews Lounge was open till about 2 am. Perched up on the 36th floor, the elevators opened up into a hallway, and then muted lights, marble, house music, cacophony, and oh..grand views.

We walked towards the bar and found a table with a view. Service was very fast, given how busy it was. Clientele were a mix of hotel guests, and people like us who were simply looking for something decent open past 10 pm. The age group was 25-40.

We ordered a Bailey's Irish Cream Creme Brulee at $12. Beautifully presented, it was heaven melting on your taste buds. Coupled with the fantastic views, it became a night to remember.

Another tip: If you're driving into the city, do use the Sutter-Stockton garage, which also happens to be across the street from the Grand Hyatt. After 6 pm, it only charges a maximum of $7.50.

The Grand Hyatt and Grandviews Lounge

A Brit in Belmont, California

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:47:00 +0000

As I was walking through the aisles of my local Walgreens this morning, a voice came over the tannoy, "assistance to pharmacy, assistance to pharmacy". She said "pharmacy" in a way which made me think she was from Britain. Lo and behold, I go to the check out counter, and the lady greeted me in her British accent. After a little chit-chat, I found out that Pam had been in Belmont for 40 years. She had grown up in Clapham, Peckham and various other places across the British Isles. She would go back in a tick, but she loves her husband, who loves golf and the Californian weather.

Isn't the world a funny place? There always something around the corner to remind you of home.

A savvy scallop entree

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 02:03:00 +0000

Just finished cooking this unbelievably delicious dish. I call this my 'Hot Dill Scallop Salad'. I love scallops for a number of reasons: they're easy to cut, marinade, cook, are good for you, and have such a wonderful texture. Not to mention how tasty they are. This is all I did:

I mixed several garlic cloves, half an onion, multicolored peppers, and one bunch of roughly cut dill in olive oil, and garlic salt. I then roasted this mixture in an oven at 380 F for 20 minutes.

I mixed olive oil, grated garlic, dried red chillies, grated ginger and hot sauce (to taste) in a bowl, and marinaded about 1.5 lbs scallops in it for 10 minutes.

I cooked the scallop mixture in a hot pan for about 3 minutes, mixing and turning carefully.

I added the other half of an onion and one bunch of green onions, and cooked the mixture for another 3 minutes.

I added the roasted vegetables to this mix, turned the heat off, mixed everything and ...voila!

Try it and see if you like it. It is wonderful! I look forward to creating some more savvy scallop recipes in the future...

Lime restaurant in San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:46:00 +0000

Hidden among bookstores with outrageous shopfronts, quirky delis and ethnic restaurants on Market Street in Castro is the cute Austin Powers-esque restaurant 'Lime'. A hit with the locals, this late night (well for SF standards anyway) serves tapas sized portions of delectable goodies. Try the amazingly popular deviled eggs, or the shitake mushrooms dripping in melted parmesan.
The halibut fish tacos are amazing too. The menu allows you to order $5 - $11 plates, so giving you an idea of the portion size. It's pretty cleverly done, because the plates usually have an odd number of bites, so you do end up ordering two plates if you want to have an equal amount of food shared within your group. Portions are tasty but tiny, so you will end up ordering more than you thought you would. But it tastes and looks good, so who cares?

Low lighting, pumping house music, and cozy booths set the scene here. Given it's in Castro, you have to be comfortable with the pretty boy, and slightly overtly gay crowd. But everyone is friendly and just out to have a good time. I was once here in 2006, and back last week for the second time, and glad to see that it was still pretty rocking in two years. Lime do a Sunday brunch with all 'All you Can Drink' mimosas for $6. Their mojitos are great by the way. Drop me a line if you've tried their brunch. Oh, and they have bar seating as well.

All in all, a cool local SF nightspot, whether you want to just grab a drink or a bite, well hidden from the tourists.

Lime

Raving about truffles...

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Chocolate truffles aren't as rare a treat as they used to be. Available in all shapes, sizes, colors and flavors these days, the likes of Godiva or Lindt continue to tempt us with their imaginative and delicious creations. The most popular alcohol or liquor-laced truffles appear to be of the champagne or Grand-Marnier variety. However, on my last visit to the Harrods chocolate/candy section in London this June, I became totally hooked on a special kind of 'Port and Cranberry' truffles.

These devilishly creamy dark chocolate truffles are created by none other than one of London's legendary chocolatiers, Charbonnel et Walker. Packed in a ruby red box of 6, this will cost you around $20, but if you're lucky, you may be there during sale time and get it for $10 as I did. These are pricey pieces of candy, but taste one, and you'll know why. Bat your eyelids, or smile that smile at the serving attendant, and you might even get a free taste!

There is a Charbonnel et Walker store in Bond Street in London, but visit the Harrods Food Hall if you can, and find your way to the candy section. It is mesmerizing and tantalizing. Apart from C et W, you will be introduced to some of the world's finest brands of candy, amidst excited cacophony, luring aromas, and luxurious ambiance.

I just went to their website, and it turns out that you can get C et W candy in San Francisco and Palo Alto. How cool is that! They even have a Cafe Charbonnel in NYC! As evident from the picture, I am down to my last one. Where is that Palo Alto store again?

Charbonnel et Walker

Cameron's Restaurant and Inn, California

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:21:00 +0000

Just as were done meandering through lovely La Honda in the convertible and were ready to hit San Francisco, I yelled 'Stop' as I spotted an Union Jack in the most unlikely of places.

Cameron's Restaurant and Inn is situated on Cabrillo Hwy in Half Moon Bay, a section of the famed and stunningly picturesque Route 1 in California. It's a very English-looking establishment from the outside, and extremely cliched in the inside. Reminded me of a rather touristy pub right outside of where the 'hop on hop off' buses stopped in London. Nevertheless, I loved it because it reminded me of home. It was warm, colorful and inviting.

As you park your car, you notice a number of artifacts aiming to create that English feel. A red telephone box, a 'Post Office' sign, an original but a very beaten up black cab, and a model of a double decker bus. It's all good. The presence of all these very British symbols under the Californian sun is a very surreal experience.

The service is fast and friendly. There was a large team of bicyclists from Stanford University, enjoying British brew on their break, but we didn't have to wait very long. We ordered Newcastle Brown Ale and Boddington's (a bitter from Manchester). The menu serves up the favorites you expect, such as fish and chips, or bangers and mash (traditional sausages and mashed potato), but also typical American fare.

Spend your time looking at all the objects around the pub - kitschy but interesting, in the best sense of the word. Old pictures, faded and framed newspaper articles, themed mugs are all part of the charm. There is also a little shop from which you can buy English things such as PG Tips tea, Sharwoods Indian Curry paste, or Heinz Beans. Not to mention British candy, or chocolates, as we call them in Blighty. It was just the other day that I was missing Maltesers so much. Little light fluffy malt balls covered in delectable milk chocolate. I was overjoyed.

Try out this little corner of England in the middle of Half Moon Bay, California. I am sure there are many such British-inspired or owned establishments in California; perhaps you could point me towards them?

Cameron's

Congratulations Spain!

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:55:00 +0000

Congratulations to Spain, the well deserving underdogs, for clinching the championship title for Euro 2008. Not a spectacular match by any measure, but they were clearly the better side compared to lackluster Germany.

As one championship ends, another is still underway in Southfields, London. Yes, I'm talking about Wimbledon. If I were still in London, you would find me at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at least one day over the two weeks. What could be better than savoring a bowl of fresh strawberries and cream while sitting at one of the courts on a lazy sunny day?

Are you or have you been to Wimbledon? Recommend any of the eateries in the area?

Enjoy the tennis.

Euro 2008 final

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:59:00 +0000

Don't miss the final for Euro 2008. It will be broadcast live from Vienna on ABC at 2:30 pm. Hopefully it's not one of those overrated meetings where both teams go on the defensive. I will be supporting Spain. It has been a while since they've won a major title. Where are you planning to watch the match? Who will you support? Share your experiences here...

Euro 2008 final: Spain v Germany 6/29/08 2:30E ABC

Euro 2008 update

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:12:00 +0000

So Spain have made it to the semi-finals. What is it about Italy and penalty kicks? That said, it will be good for an underdog to win this time. The two semi-finals are poised between Spain v Russia, and German v Turkey. I was hoping this would be Netherlands' year, but somehow Van Basten's boys failed to deliver. Who do I think should win? I like the look of Russia so far - they have a dogged enthusiasm about them. Let's see what happens.

6/25: Germany v Turkey
6/26: Russia v Spain
6/29: The final

Euro 2008

Euro 2008 cracker!

noreply@blogger.com (Monica) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:57:00 +0000

Croatia v Turkey

If you were watching, you know what I mean by a cracker. Goal-less for 90 minutes, then Croatia scores in pretty much the last minute of extra time. I was about to change the channel, secure in the knowledge that Croatia were going to face Germany in the semis, when out of nowhere, Turkey score in 'extra time' of the extra-time. How crazy was that? Vienna erupted with the wild cacophony from the Turkish fans, and the subdued groans of the Croatian camp.

Penalty shootouts - you have to love them for sheer suspense, but it just isn't a fair way to end a game. Then again, all is fair in love and war. And this was a war. I have to hand it to Turkey; they didn't miss a single shot, and their goalkeeper, Rustu, who wasn't even supposed to come on had the regular goalkeeper not been red-carded for the previous game, was exceptionally good tonight. Final score: Turkey 1 Croatia 1 (Turkey won 3-1 on penalties)

So it's Turkey vs Germany in one of the semi finals. Check this website or the widget on the right to find out more. Matches are broadcast live on the ESPN channels.