(date night, toddler-free review! nothing new to report on the toddler front....)
Because I liked Wade Hagemann at Blanca so much, and because CH's colleagues keep telling us how yummy Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizza is, we decided to give it another try - even though last time the food was just ok.
This time: super-crowded at 5:45 (isn't everyone still eating Thanksgiving leftovers??), got heated patio seating on a freezing night....Not a super-auspicious start.
Salad: ok.
Bread, squash soup: good not great.
Still don't like Hagemann's red sauce: last time I thought it was sucky, and this time I tasted CH's: still yukky, too sweet and too much oregano.
And though CH liked his homemade pickles, I thought they were too sweet. They did nothing for me.
I FOUND THE HOLY GRAIL, THOUGH! Once you figure out what to order at this place, it is awesome - strictly for the hard-core foodie!
Signature white pizza: ricotta, housemade mozzarella, lemon zest - I don't even like lemon really and this was AWESOME.
Dessert: everyone talks about their butterscotch pudding. I don't even like butterscotch! But we decided, what the hell, we'll taste it. OH MY GOD - AWESOME. It has this amazing salt - it just left a warm, happy happy feeling in my mouth for the next hour. (Thanks, Mr. Manvite!).
LOVED IT, we'll be back.
Just be careful ordering, and if you don't order right the first time, try again!
(oh, and it's a good thing I threw on something other than mom clothes, because somehow all of CH's company was there - first one of his employees and then his boss!)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I love mixology (my fave San Diego cocktails of 2010)
Foodgirl is settling down a little: instead of trying to hit new places every time we have a babysitter, we are starting to retract a bit and revisit places we like. One of the things that makes this fun and not boring are the wonderful seasonal cocktail menus at so many places in San Diego these days. I love mixology! Bartenders are using seasonal fresh foods (usually fruits but sometimes veggies and herbs) and so much creativity. Here are some recent faves, in no particular order.
1. Kitchen 1540: Hibiscus Cooler. Yum....that's all I have to say about that.
2. Urban Solace: Better Than Eden's Apple. Well, that drink was better than just about anything. ANYTHING! SO DELISH! Tart, intense, really super yummy.
3. Alchemy: Tempranillo Rose Vanilla Sangria. They had this in the summer, and it's not on the menu anymore. Wowza! My recent cocktail there, a halloween pumpkin-cranberry thing, was not quite as good. I am game for returning to work my way through the season's choices, though!
4. Searsucker: The Peter Rabbit. Ridiculously good: pickled radish, carrots, pimm's, lemonade. One of the yummiest things ever! But it was gone in a flash (almost nothing to it), and it costs $12. The cocktail I had on my next visit, a reimagined cosmo, was creative and interesting, but not in the same league.
5. Clay's La Jolla: A more traditional menu, but they had a great great Mojito with tons and tons of fresh mint and lime. Outstanding.
6. Roy's: something with St. Germain Elderflower. Of course I love everything with St. Germain, so I'm not that picky, but I recall this being good.
Can't wait for the next time we can go out!
1. Kitchen 1540: Hibiscus Cooler. Yum....that's all I have to say about that.
2. Urban Solace: Better Than Eden's Apple. Well, that drink was better than just about anything. ANYTHING! SO DELISH! Tart, intense, really super yummy.
3. Alchemy: Tempranillo Rose Vanilla Sangria. They had this in the summer, and it's not on the menu anymore. Wowza! My recent cocktail there, a halloween pumpkin-cranberry thing, was not quite as good. I am game for returning to work my way through the season's choices, though!
4. Searsucker: The Peter Rabbit. Ridiculously good: pickled radish, carrots, pimm's, lemonade. One of the yummiest things ever! But it was gone in a flash (almost nothing to it), and it costs $12. The cocktail I had on my next visit, a reimagined cosmo, was creative and interesting, but not in the same league.
5. Clay's La Jolla: A more traditional menu, but they had a great great Mojito with tons and tons of fresh mint and lime. Outstanding.
6. Roy's: something with St. Germain Elderflower. Of course I love everything with St. Germain, so I'm not that picky, but I recall this being good.
Can't wait for the next time we can go out!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Revisiting Urban Solace (North Park)
Date night here....
We first hit Urban Solace in Jan. 2009 or so. It had tons of buzz and I remember being super impressed. It felt "urban", way more than other places in San Diego, and the food was delicious and very reasonable. I still remember what I had: those famous biscuits; a salad that was to die for; and a grilled portabello sandwich that came with a little soup ($9, I think). Reasonable, yummy.
Then I saw Matt Gordon speak at a food panel and thought he was menschy, smart and cute (not as cute as Cute Husband, of course, but young and menschy for a chef). And recently he's in the news a lot for throwing high fructose corn syrup off the menu, even for cocktails, and pushing for sustainability in all his products. All around a nice guy.
The only reason we haven't been back sooner: the food seemed a little heavy every time I looked at the menu. The current menu had some lighter choices for me, so back we went.
Verdict: Very good, but not as nirvana-y as I remembered.
Decor: yes, it's loud and urban, but I am kind of suprised that I was so impressed by this 18 mos. ago. San Diego has really come a long way. Searsucker is way more exciting, but I think there are also other places with buzz and a coolor atmosphere.
Cocktail: WOWZA! One of the best I have ever had. Better than Eden's Apple: could it be any yummier? Very intense and delicious: Gala Apple Vodka, Roasted Orange-Infused Syrup, Orange Bitters, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Fresh Citrus Juices, Fresh Apple Slice. Need I say more?
Appetizer: Liked my albacore chop-chop. Wasn't nearly as good as any ceviche that Ricardo Heredia makes at Alchemy. CH liked his wedge salad. The biscuits were as good as we remembered.
Entree: This was the other highlight of my meal. L-O-V-E-D my salmon. Great fish, perfectly cooked, yummy farro with veggies underneath. CH thought his mac n'cheese was ok, not spectacular.
Dessert: "not so red" velvet cake. Pretty disappointing. Liked the cream cheese frosting but not really the cake. No taste compared to the cake I had at Kitchen 1540.
CH's verdict when I pressed him: Nowhere near as good as Alchemy. I certainly wouldn't argue with that. We probably won't rush back again, but I did really enjoy my cocktail and entree, and I still think Matt Gordon is an all-around awesome guy.
We first hit Urban Solace in Jan. 2009 or so. It had tons of buzz and I remember being super impressed. It felt "urban", way more than other places in San Diego, and the food was delicious and very reasonable. I still remember what I had: those famous biscuits; a salad that was to die for; and a grilled portabello sandwich that came with a little soup ($9, I think). Reasonable, yummy.
Then I saw Matt Gordon speak at a food panel and thought he was menschy, smart and cute (not as cute as Cute Husband, of course, but young and menschy for a chef). And recently he's in the news a lot for throwing high fructose corn syrup off the menu, even for cocktails, and pushing for sustainability in all his products. All around a nice guy.
The only reason we haven't been back sooner: the food seemed a little heavy every time I looked at the menu. The current menu had some lighter choices for me, so back we went.
Verdict: Very good, but not as nirvana-y as I remembered.
Decor: yes, it's loud and urban, but I am kind of suprised that I was so impressed by this 18 mos. ago. San Diego has really come a long way. Searsucker is way more exciting, but I think there are also other places with buzz and a coolor atmosphere.
Cocktail: WOWZA! One of the best I have ever had. Better than Eden's Apple: could it be any yummier? Very intense and delicious: Gala Apple Vodka, Roasted Orange-Infused Syrup, Orange Bitters, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Fresh Citrus Juices, Fresh Apple Slice. Need I say more?
Appetizer: Liked my albacore chop-chop. Wasn't nearly as good as any ceviche that Ricardo Heredia makes at Alchemy. CH liked his wedge salad. The biscuits were as good as we remembered.
Entree: This was the other highlight of my meal. L-O-V-E-D my salmon. Great fish, perfectly cooked, yummy farro with veggies underneath. CH thought his mac n'cheese was ok, not spectacular.
Dessert: "not so red" velvet cake. Pretty disappointing. Liked the cream cheese frosting but not really the cake. No taste compared to the cake I had at Kitchen 1540.
CH's verdict when I pressed him: Nowhere near as good as Alchemy. I certainly wouldn't argue with that. We probably won't rush back again, but I did really enjoy my cocktail and entree, and I still think Matt Gordon is an all-around awesome guy.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Pacific Coast Grill (Solana Beach), plus Alchemy III
Quick round-up.
Pacific Coast Grill is a great place for toddlers...and it's yummy! Surprising but true: we went at 5 pm, and it was not super busy, and lots of the other tables had well-behaved toddlers too. Super Toddler was on his best behavior. He enjoyed his brioche grilled cheese and french fries, and colored happily with crayons. (Of course he kept calling out, "Man!" to the waiter because he wanted a lemonade refill, but we taught him the word "Sir").
I had a scrumptious mixed greens/cranberry/blue cheese/almond salad, followed by Izzy Balderas' awesome fish tacos (they have two kinds). I really like his food: it's not super-ambitious, but it is extremely delicious and well executed. Creative yummy cal comfort food. CH was kind of grumpy at the menu ("nothing for me", he said) but eventually he settled on some beef skewers and caesar salad, and ended up enjoying his meal in spite of himself. He says he is not dying to go back, but since it worked really well for ST and me, and was pretty darn relaxing (like taking ST out on date night) we'll see in a few months whether he is willing to go again. The prices are super-reasonable at happy hour.
Hit Alchemy last weekend for visit #3. RICARDO HEREDIA is still THE MAN! He puts out awesome awesome creative food and I love that place to death. Had a cranberry pumpkin cocktail (it was Halloween weekend) and the most awesome fish ever (loup de mer, with pumpkin, spinach, pear brunoise....the flavors were so exciting, and I had not even gotten the lardons, which I'm sure added another layer to the dish). Always love going there!! Cute Husband likes their food too - he got a salad which he enjoyed and then "some kind of meat" (ha - I don't remember since I didn't taste it, but he really liked it too).
Pacific Coast Grill is a great place for toddlers...and it's yummy! Surprising but true: we went at 5 pm, and it was not super busy, and lots of the other tables had well-behaved toddlers too. Super Toddler was on his best behavior. He enjoyed his brioche grilled cheese and french fries, and colored happily with crayons. (Of course he kept calling out, "Man!" to the waiter because he wanted a lemonade refill, but we taught him the word "Sir").
I had a scrumptious mixed greens/cranberry/blue cheese/almond salad, followed by Izzy Balderas' awesome fish tacos (they have two kinds). I really like his food: it's not super-ambitious, but it is extremely delicious and well executed. Creative yummy cal comfort food. CH was kind of grumpy at the menu ("nothing for me", he said) but eventually he settled on some beef skewers and caesar salad, and ended up enjoying his meal in spite of himself. He says he is not dying to go back, but since it worked really well for ST and me, and was pretty darn relaxing (like taking ST out on date night) we'll see in a few months whether he is willing to go again. The prices are super-reasonable at happy hour.
Hit Alchemy last weekend for visit #3. RICARDO HEREDIA is still THE MAN! He puts out awesome awesome creative food and I love that place to death. Had a cranberry pumpkin cocktail (it was Halloween weekend) and the most awesome fish ever (loup de mer, with pumpkin, spinach, pear brunoise....the flavors were so exciting, and I had not even gotten the lardons, which I'm sure added another layer to the dish). Always love going there!! Cute Husband likes their food too - he got a salad which he enjoyed and then "some kind of meat" (ha - I don't remember since I didn't taste it, but he really liked it too).
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