Broccoli & Chocolate

restaurants * food events * news

Review: Loard’s Ice Cream

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Atmosphere: 4/5   ♦   Service: 5/5   ♦   Food Quality: 5/5   ♦   Value: 5/5
Times Visited: Lots   ♦   Will I Return?: Have to restrain from going every day.
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Cue heavenly sounding boys choir.  (Halleluja…)

Loard’s is an Establishment as far as I’m concerned. Capital “E” and everything.  The decorations are from a decade when my parents roamed the play yards (and I mean that they were children, not just really creepy adults) – pink and white stripes installed with enough vigor and enthusiasm to last a century.  And boy do I hope it does.

I have frequented this shop pretty much since I was a kid but became especially attached after obtaining my driver’s license and being miraculously allowed to chauffeur myself down for a sundae anytime I darn well pleased.

Pink stripes aside, Loard’s ice cream is legendary.  It is deliciously creamy and the choice of flavors is unrivaled … 

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Review: Akaihana

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Update: This restaurant is now closed.

Atmosphere: 3/5   ♦   Service: 1/5   ♦   Food Quality: 3/5   ♦   Value: 3/5
Times Visited: One   ♦   Will I Return?: Maybe, but leaning toward not likely.

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Akaihana Japanese Restaurant is at 22560 Foothill Boulevard, right in the beating heart of downtown Hayward.  And by “beating heart” I really mean the barely breathing clogged artery that is central Hayward, written with all the love of a long-time local.  This place used to be Ichiban, which was a highly famed Japanese joint in the area during its heyday about 20 years ago.  As I understand it, Ichiban became a bit less popular over the years and then changed over to Akaihana sometime in the recent past (last 2 years?).  And from what I can tell, this change has yet to add a spark of life to Hayward’s Japanese culinary needs…. 

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Review: Hungry Howie’s

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Atmosphere: 3/5   ♦   Service: 4/5   ♦   Food Quality: 3/5   ♦   Value: 3/5
Times Visited: First time since 1998  ♦   Will I Return?: Maybe

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Brown and yellow checkers means Hungry Howie's!

Hungry Howie’s is where I choose to begin the ‘broccoli and chocolate’ adventure as it’s a good, solid, established Hayward locale that’s been around the block and back again.  Often overlooked, this tiny take away joint stands proud with its blindingly bright yellow sign along Mission Boulevard, smooshed between the Hayward Plunge (or, as I call it, The Dive) and an ever-faithful 7-Eleven.  I’m not sure how long this particular Howie’s has been in operation, but I am sure that it’s changed since I was a teenager.

Hungry Howie’s was the go-to cheap pizza place in my heyday and it seems to have evolved into a full-blown, semi-classy venue since then. … 

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In a Nutshell

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Welcome to my brand new Bay Area Food blog!  I am a native Haywardian who has just been reborn into the Bay for the first time since leaving for college almost ten long years ago.  And guess what?  I like to eat things.  I also like to babble needlessly online.  Lo and behold – the almighty blog exists to which we can all repent our sins!  Or, in my case, rant about excellent Mexican or terrible Thai.  I am here to fulfill all your local restaurant evaluation needs and work out your sarcasm muscles while doing it…. 

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