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The culinary world is a tapestry of diverse flavors, and one of the most enchanting threads in this fabric is Turkish cuisine. In the heart of Palo Alto, the vibrant and brand new Meyhouse Restaurant welcomes diners on a journey through the rich and savory traditions of Turkey. Join me as we embark on a culinary adventure at this delightful establishment, where the aroma of spices, the warmth of Turkish hospitality, and the tantalizing dishes, all merge into a feast for the senses. Meyhouse Restaurant is a great addition to the already long list of exceptional dining places in Palo Alto. Just a couple of months since its opening at the time of this writing, this Palo Alto location seems to have outdone its Sunnyvale counterpart with its rating on Yelp. Dishing out masterfully cooked Turkish cuisine, the atmosphere exudes an inviting ambiance, with its elegant decor, warm lighting, and an upscale vibe. The service is extremely friendly and prompt and our server gave us great recommendations and advise on the entrees and drinks on the menu. Each dish we ordered was better than the previous and came smartly plated. Everything tasted fresh, and this was, by far, the best Turkish cuisine I have ever tasted. Our entire table came to the consensus that this restaurant was top notch, but the noise level was very high, and the size of the cocktails/mocktails were a bit on the stingy side. For all of the reasons above, I have rated this restaurant 4 out of 5 SolaraStars. >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending. The interiors Sip and Savor: Meyhouse's beverage selection is as rich as its food. We ordered a few cocktails, mocktails and wine, including the Cos-Mey-Politan, a virgin Mojito and a creative "Cappadocia". The ginger based Turkish mocktail which was not on the menu, was exceptional, albeit small in quantity. The drinks provided a fitting start to the meal, allowing us to savor the rich flavors lingering in our mouth until the appetizers arrived. Delightful libations Appetizers to wet our palate: Our culinary voyage began with a selection of appetizers, known as "meze". We ordered the following vegetarian dips that complimented the warm house bread that was free flowing all night. Girit - A dip made of sheeps milk, pistachios, oregano and olive oil. I just couldnt get enough of this. The cheese was very flavorful. Kopoglu - A delicious mix of roasted eggplant and peppers, in a tomato sauce. Gambilya Fava - A slightly spicy and tangy fava beans based spread. Meze Mouthwatering entrees Our main course consisted of the following : Mercimekli Karniyarik (Veg)- Oven roasted half eggplant stuffed with green lentil, dried mint, tomato sauce and brown butter served with garlic-yogurt. It was accompanied with buttery white rice and we also ordered a side of mashed potatoes. This was incredible, and by far the best dish of the night. It felt like a burst of flavor in every bite. All of us who ordered this dish agreed that we hadnt tasted anything like it before. Mercimekli Karniyarik (Veg) Sebzeli Alinazik (Veg) - Grilled and marinated seasonal vegetables over smoked eggplant-labne, drizzled with paprika-butter. Extremely colorful and fresh tasting. Sebzeli Alinazik (Veg) Ankara Tava - Slow roasted grass-fed Californian lamb shoulder with toasted orzo. Ankara Tava Chilean Seabass - For a taste of the sea, this Slow roasted with fig ginger “Byzantian murri glaze”, acompanied with Aegean greens and lemon mash potato was quite the treat for the seafood lover amongst us. Chilean Seabass Delightful Desserts No Turkish meal is complete without a sweet treat to end it. We finished our meal with some of the best baklava. The layers of flaky pastry filled with honey and chopped nuts, creating a delightful symphony of textures and flavors were so lip-smackin' good that our sweet-toothed friends ordered a second plate! Flaky, delicious baklava In summary, Meyhouse Restaurant in Palo Alto is more than just a dining experience; it's a journey through the heart and soul of Turkish cuisine. The warm ambiance, artful presentation, and, most importantly, the incredible flavors ensure that your visit is an unforgettable adventure. Whether you're a seasoned traveler of Turkish cuisine or a newcomer looking for a taste of Turkey, Meyhouse is a culinary gem that awaits your exploration. Bon appétit! Yaşanacak günler! (To better days!) Our group of six. >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

Royal Thaali recently opened in McCarthy Ranch area of Milpitas and serves unlimited Gujarati, Punjabi and Maharashtrian thalis throughout the week. The menu changes everyday, and they offer a special thali during the weekends. ‼️Use SOLARASTILLS discount code for 10% discount for their regular thalis between Tue-Thur, until Oct 28th. Regular thali is $17.99 and worth every penny!!❤️ >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending. Food tastes fresh and delicious, and taste is mild. Since we went early on a weekday (6.30pm on a Thursday), we got seating immediately, and service was very fast and prompt. We got unlimited refills for all the items. And along with the taste, what I liked best was that we dont have to choose between roti and poori, as both are served. The rotis were phulkas - light and thin, with ample ghee on top. Since its a small space, the place can get extremely noisy during peak hours. For all of the above reasons, I have rated this 4 out of 5 SolaraStars. ‼️PRO TIP: Since this is a very popular restaurant, go as soon as the restaurant opens, to avoid long waits, and for fast service. On the evening our group went, the menu was primarily Maharashtrian. 👉Here’s what we were served: Aaloo Bonda, Baingan Masala, Kolhapuri Mix veg, Sprouted Moong Dal Usal, Amti (Dal), Maharashtrian Kadhi, Shrikhand, Roti, Poori, Jeera Rice, Salad, Papad, Masala Chaas I highly recommend this place, and I am looking forward to visiting Royal Thaali again to try out their weekend special thali.

It is hard to believe that California displays fall colors, but it truly does. Fall here may not be as vibrant and as colorful or as widespread as in New England, but there are small pockets in the state where the landscape is ablaze with primarily aspens, come October. One such area is the Eastern Sierras, from south of Mono Lake all the way to Bishop. Although the time of peak color varies from year to year, it is usually a safe bet to plan your trip around the middle of October. We visited the area around October 15th and were not disappointed by the colors. Below is a weekend itinerary I have curated to check out the prime leaf-peeping spots in Mammoth-Bishop area, along with a few attractions along the way. Fall colors in the Eastern Sierras >> Got a question about this leaf-peeping trip that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending. Where To Stay : Yosemite Gateway Motel, close to Yosemite's Tioga Pass Road entrance, in the town of Lee Vining, is a perfect spot to stay for this trip. This no-frills hotel seems to have been recently renovated. Our room was very spacious, especially the bathroom, and had views of Mono Lake. Highly recommend this place. Friday Drive from the Bay Area towards Yosemite NP. If driving an electric car, Groveland is a great spot to charge at the Tesla Supercharger, before entering Yosemite NP. While your car gets charged, you can recharge at Pizza Factory, just a couple of minutes walk up the road. We really liked their Greek Pizza, as the pizza sauce they use is very flavorful. Once charged, drive along Hwy 120 into Yosemite NP. There is no permit required in October to enter Yosemite. However, you will be charged an entry fee of $35 at one of the entrance kiosks. If you own an America The Beautiful card, then entry is free. Drive along Tioga Pass Rd, exit the park and head towards your motel at Lee Vining, which is a small town about 10 miles from the Tioga Pass entrance at the other end of Yosemite. Spend the night in the motel. Saturday Today we will be exploring the fall colors by driving south to Bishop area. But along the way, there are a couple of interesting pit stops which are worth the detour. Mono Lake's Tufas : Start your day early with a visit to Mono Lake's South Tufa area at sunrise to view the unusual limestone formations. South Tufa area is 5 miles off of Hwy 395, but the last mile to the trailhead is gravel. We had no issues driving our sedan over the unpaved road. Self-registered entry fee to the area is $3 per person. But since Mono Lake is federal land, it is free if you have America The Beautiful pass. From the trailhead, it is a short quarter mile walk on the boardwalk to the Tufas. The bizarre pillars standing in the middle of the lake were formed due to thousands of years of interaction of subterranean spring water with a high concentration of carbon in the lake. Prior to 1940, these towers or Tufas were submerged under the lake. But in the 1940s when the city of Los Angeles started diverting the water from nearby creeks towards LA, the towers became exposed. The Tufa outcrops look especially stellar during sunrise and sunset, with the lakes calm water reflecting a rich palette of colors. South Tufas illuminated by the colors of the rising sun South Tufas illuminated by the colors of the rising sun Mammoth Lake Hot Springs : After exploring Mono Lake head south along Hwy 395 to your next stop, which is Wild Willys Hot Springs. Just outside of Mammoth Lakes, there is a huge caldera with a number of natural hot springs surrounded by sweeping views of the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. Whitmore hot springs, Crab Cooker hot springs and Wild Willy's hot springs are three popular ones, all located along Benton Crossing Road. These three are rural and outdoors and are just natural holes in the ground. They are owned by the Bureau of Land Management, and hence free. We chose to explore Wild Willys as it was the biggest of the three. The last 1.2 miles access to Wild Willys is along a dirt/gravel road, but it was nothing that our Tesla sedan couldnt handle. A boardwalk from the parking lot leads you to the natural pools. There are 3-4 pools of varying sizes. When we went around 8.30am on a Saturday in October, the place wasnt crowded but people were filtering in and out of the pools. The warm water was just the perfect temperature and it felt heavenly soaking in the warm water on a chilly morning. One of the many natural hot tubs at Wild Willy's City of Bishop : Soaking in the hot springs can make you hungry! Once you've cleaned up and returned to your car, head further south on Hwy 395 to the city of Bishop. This is a perfect spot to charge your car at the Tesla Supercharger in town on Warren, while you catch a quick brunch. There are a number of eateries close to the Supercharger lot, along Main Street. We opted for a Mexican brunch at El Ranchito. The service was quick and the food was satisfying. Bishop Creek Canyon : After recharging yourself (and your Tesla), drive west along State Route 168 (W. Line Street) towards Bishop Creek Canyon where there are innumerable places to see the changing colors of the forest. This IS the prime location for leaf peeping in the Eastern Sierras. The entire canyon comprises three forks of Bishop Creek – north, middle and south fork. A large lake marks the head of each fork, North Lake on north fork; Lake Sabrina on middle fork; and South Lake on south fork, with numerous other smaller lakes along the creeks. Lake Sabrina is the prettiest, and the most crowded. It is a popular picnic and fishing spot with views of large clumps of aspen trees changing colors towards the far end of the lake. The drive to Lake Sabrina is equally stunning with with trees ablaze with bright yellows of varying shade. There are many photo opportunities at each turn of the road, so take your time to take in the vibrant colors. Lake Sabrina Fall colors on the farther shore of Lake Sabrina The most brilliant of the forks was the drive to South Lake. The view of the rocky mountains with yellow aspens growing on them, a waterfall in the distance, and a small cottage set in all that color - it was such a visual treat. The drive to South Lake was the perfect example of the journey being more important than the destination, as South Lake itself was unimpressive and almost dry in mid October 2022, so you can safely skip stopping at the lake. South Fork vistas South Fork Vistas We did not take the North Lake fork as I had read up before our trip that the road was unpaved, with a lot of ruts, and steep. Since we were driving a sedan, we decided not to risk it and skipped North Lake entirely. South Fork Vistas Rock Creek Road : Bishop being the southern most point of our trip, it is time to head back north towards Lee Vining. Next stop is Rock Creek Road which is a few miles north of Bishop and a quick detour on our road trip. This is the highest paved road in all of California and stretches about 10.5 miles each way. The drive offers dramatic views of surrounding Sierra peaks. The fall colors were peaking all along the road when we went, and it was well worth the side trip. View along Rock Creek Road Lake Crowley : Very close to Rock Creek Road, off Hwy 395 is the unique and interesting Lake Crowley. What is unique about this lake are the mysterious columns created on its banks. These stone columns are up to 20 feet tall connected by high arches, as if part of an ancient Moorish temple. Researchers have found that these columns were created due to volcanic activity under the earth surface and were exposed when the Lake Crowley reservoir was built in the 1940s. To reach the stone columns, it requires hiking for about 2 miles to the top of the cliff and then down a very steep incline down the cliff face to lake level. But dont let the hike discourage you. Lake Crowley is a sight not to be missed if you are in the area. Read more about this hike in my blog here. Lake Crowley at sunset Lake Crowley columns Before calling it a day, it is time to recharge your car in anticipation of the long drive back home the next day. The town of Mammoth Lakes has a Tesla Supercharger on Tavern road, close to many restaurants. We had a quick dinner at Nik N Willies Pizza and Sub across the street, while we waited for our car to complete charging. We headed back to our motel and turned in for the night. Sunday After checking out of our motel, we had a quick brunch across the street at Nicely restaurant in Lee Vining. The service was prompt and the food was satisfying. In anticipation of a long and slow drive through stop and go traffic along Tioga Pass in Yosemite on our way back home, we decided to keep the vista points to a minimum. We planned to cover the famous June Lake Loop, south of Mammoth Lakes today. Parker Lake : The road to Parker Lake trailhead is along the June Lake Loop, close to the North entrance of the loop. It requires driving about 3 miles on an unpaved dirt road. Although we were initially skeptical, our Tesla sedan handled it just fine. The 3 mile dirt road to Parker Lake trailhead The trial itself is about 2 miles each way. The first half mile or so is pretty steep and rocky, and at over 8000ft elevation, climbing a steep incline is no joke. After that, the remainder of the trail is gradual, and follows by the side of Parker Creek. Fallen aspen leaves in Parker Creek The trail goes through large aspen groves. Unfortunately, they were past peak when we went, and most of the trees were bare. Nevertheless, it was a gorgeous hike and the view of beautiful and serene Parker Lake at the end of the trail was most rewarding. Having gone early in the day, we were greeted by absolutely still water and mirror reflection of the surrounding waters. Parker Lake reflection I must say that Parker Lake was the highlight of our entire trip. The hike back to our car was all downhill and easier than our way in. June Lake Loop : After Parker Lake hike, continue along the June Lake Loop. There are three big lakes which are worthy of a stop along the way - Grant Lake, Silver Lake, Gull Lake and June Lake. The drive along the loop is scenic with vibrant groves of yellow and orange fall colors on either side of the loop. Silver Lake June Lake Loop rejoins Hwy 395 at its southern end. Having charged your Tesla sufficiently the previous night, it is now time to make the long journey back home to the Bay Area with a camera full of memories of a colorful weekend spent in the Sierra Nevadas. >> Got a question about this leaf-peeping trip that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

A new South Indian restaurant has popped up in Sunnyvale, along El Camino Real, next to Chat Bhavan. Called Chutneys Udupi Fusion, it is more ‘Fusion” than “Udupi”, and has got nothing to do with the famous Chutneys restaurant in Hyderabad. The space is very cheerful and well lit, but being a small restaurant, the acoustics is terrible, as you can hear people talking a couple of tables away. Service was very fast and friendly, and we liked the recommendations our wait staff made. Food presentation was really nice and unexpected for this small restaurant. Food was pretty average, if not for the dahi vada which was terrible and can easily be skipped. Here’s what we ordered: 👉Pineapple rasam - 5/5 Tangy and sweet, it hit the spot on a cloudy fall day. It came with rice happala (papad) and it was so good that I placed a second order togo. 👉Hara-bara idli - 4/5 - Very soft hot idlis stuffed with peas subji. Everything was perfect, including the delicious chutneys and the mysore-style sambar it came with. Only wished there was more stuffing in the idli. 👉Alu tikki chaat - 3.5/5. Was pretty decent but nothing to rave about. 👉Dahi vada - 2/5 I like to order dahi vadas at south indian restaurants just because the south indian version is slightly different from the north indian version we are used to, as it does not come with any of the chutney dressings. But this dahi vada was in a sad state - too soft and tasteless. We should have given this a miss. Do check out this restaurant when you are in the area, but dont order the dahi vada 🙂 >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

If you liked K Cafe in San Jose, then you will be happy to know that there is a new, smaller version of K Cafe in Milpitas and Union City, called K On The Go. The ambiance reflects the vibe of the original, with pretty flowers, chandeliers and mirrors adorning the entire place. Menu consists of coffee, a small selection of milk tea and snacks. Check it out with the photo-hungry girls in your life! >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

Mylapore in Pleasanton is currently the most famous south indian restaurant in the Bay Area, and it is worth all the hype! The food is very authentic and service is extremely fast and efficient. We loved all what we ordered, and cant wait to go back again to try more. Small details like pearl onion sambar, and raw milk and jagguary for the filter coffee won our hearts (and tummy). 👉Pro Tip: Since it is extremely popular and they don’t accept reservations, go as soon as they open on weekends, to avoid the 30-45 mins wait. Also, checkout their Dosa Happy Hour on weekdays between 3pm - 6pm when all dosas are $7.99. Here’s what we ordered: Benne Masala dosa : this was very close to Bengaluru’s Vidyarthi Bhavan dosa - thick dosa, soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. We could taste the combination of butter and ghee in every bite. Mylapore special masala dosa - Crispy dosa with potato, gun powder and onion filling. Medhu Vada - 4 in a plate. Very crunch, but soft on the inside. Tasted heavenly dipped in chinna vengaya (pearl onion) sambar. Rathna Cafe Idli Sambar : Pillow soft idlis drizzled with ghee. Loved the homemade taste when accompanied with fresh chutney. Filter kapi - Unlike other restaurants where coffee is served in small glasses, Mylapore does it right for the coffee addicts by serving in generous sized portions. Plus, the milk used is raw, organic, pasteurized milk, instead of whole milk, and they also offer jaggery as a choice, instead of white sugar. Try out Mylapore in Pleasanton soon! You will not be disappointed!! >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

If you are in the mood for wholesome Punjabi food, then do check out Parantha House in Pleasanton. Located on Pimlico Drive, just off 580, this restaurant dishes up authentic Parathas and other combo meals which will make you come back for more. The dollop of melting butter over the hot parathas was the figurative icing-on-the-cake. Here’s what we ate: 👉Dil-jeet Veg Thali - Simple, but wholesome meal. Everything tasted homemade, without the over-the-top masalas. The thaali came with the day’s special, which were alu-gajar sabji and shahi panner. Chole, rice, raita, 2 rotis and gulab jamun were also part of the meal. 👉Stuffed Tava Kulcha - this was my favorite amongst the 3 parathas we ordered. Flavorful stuffing, with melted butter and chole on the side was a win-win all around. 👉Pakeeza Paneer Paratha and Dabang Dal Parathas were both delicious and hit the spot with the homecooked taste. 👉Vada Pav - this was the only order which wasnt up to mark. I am always in search of a good vada pav, and this definitely didnt scale up to the better ones we have tasted in the Bay Area. There was too much pav and less of the vada. We should have just stuck to a Punjabi appetizer instead. Do check out this restaurant the next time you are in the area. You wont be disappointed! >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

Dosa Express is the newest South Indian Vegetarian restaurant in Fremont, offering traditional South Indian tiffin items. Located on Thornton Ave, across from Suju’s, the restaurant is airy and spacious and was quite busy on a friday night, a week after it officially opened. The food was quite good, and on par with some of the other Fremont restaurants, like Saravana Bhavan and Dosa Hut. They have over 30 varieties of dosas on there menu! Here’s what we ordered : Dahi vada - was the typical south indian “thayir vada” with cilantro and seasoning, and without the green and sweet chutney added, as in the case of the north indian version. Parotta Kurma - Parotta was perfectly done - crispy, yet soft. Kurma was made with cashew gravy and tasted delicious! Onion rava masala dosa - I had asked for it to be crispy and well done. I was not disappointed! It was crunchy till the last bite. I could eat it without any of the accompaniments it came on the side (Potato curry, sambar and 3 types of chutney). Free milky chai was an added bonus to all the good food. Do check it out the next time you are in the area! >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

After many unsuccessful attempts to visit this place over the years, we finally made it to Punjabi Dhaba in Fresno. We went in to try their famous stuffed parathas without realizing the size of those. These parathas ended up being the largest we had ever eaten! Their masala orange juice was equally delicious and complimented the parathas and the dahi and the pickles very well. We ended our visit with a bag of freshly made matris to go. The owner was very hospitable and friendly and recommended what to order. When we ordered 2 parathas, he did warn us that the parathas are big, but we, unfortunately, did not heed his advice. Imagine our surprise when the parathas arrived at the table! Check out this hidden gem if you are in the Fresno area or on your road trip to Sequoia national park or to SoCal. >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

Amrutha Vilas is a newly opened vegetarian restaurant in San Ramon that serves all the popular South Indian dishes in a pleasant, casual setting. Service was quick and the free cardamom chai added to the experience. The chutneys all tasted fresh and the tangy ginger chutney was my favorite. Check it out the next time you are in the area. Here’s what we ordered : Ghee Masala Dosa - Just the right amount of crispiness and potato filling. Loved the taste of ghee in every bite. 8/10 Onion Rava masala Dosa - Nice and crispy and roasted dark, as per our request. There was a generous sprinkling of onion, which we loved. 7.5/10 Sambar vada - 3 vadas dipped in sambar. The vadas were hard and had not fully soaked in the sambar. 6/10 >> Got a question about this page that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @SolaraStills and I’ll be happy to help! I only accept DMs from followers, so hit the follow button before sending.

Son & Garden - a brunch resto in Menlo Park and San Francisco, made popular by Instagrammers and selfie seekers. Although the restaurant itself is very pretty and the food and drinks presentation is top notch, the same cannot be said about the service, location or the taste. We had to try twice before we could get a table. The place is overhyped and not worth the time, IMO.

Vada Pav is a relatively new (read 5 month old) establishment in Mountain View dishing out Bombay street food. It is a small place serving food in paper and plastic products (absolutely not a fan). Their namesake was sub par, to say the least. The vada was quite bland and I like my pavs lighly toasted, not straight out of the bag. Vada pav The second item we tried, Mumbai amul cheese sandwich, made up for the mediocre vada pav. It brought back mouthwatering memories of that one time I visited Jay sandwich near Linking Road in Mumbai. Amul cheese Mumbai sandwich The third item, Amul cheese potato frankie was not done well with the fillings unevenly distributed. Eating first a mouthful of raw onions and then a blob of amul cheese followed finally by bland potato filling towards the bottom took my stomach for a spin. Amul Cheese potato frankie The final redeeming factor was the shrikhand. It was almost as good as the best one I have had, with the right amount of nuts and sweetness. Shrikhand All in all this restaurant gets only 2 out of 5 Solara stars, with points taken away for disposable tableware, uninspiring vada pav and frankie which felt more like a prank-ie.