Cucina Urbana: Retry (Banker's Hill)

Have been a hater re CU. Everyone seems to rave, but the one time we tried: slow, bad service, only meh food.

Tonight we were going to the Globe (Some Lovers, the new Burt Bacharach/Steven Sater musical - definitely worth seeing). They advised us that parking is terrible this time of year, so we only wanted to park once before dinner and not try to repark before show. That left us with Banker's Hill restaurants as our choice.

Hexagon: meh
Avenue 5: lost its luster

Was planning to go to Barrio Star, but didn't feel 100% today and wasn't sure a tofu bowl was the best thing for me.

We decided to give CU a try, sitting at the bar as walk-ins.

I'm a believer!

What was nice this time:
--got seated quickly at the bar, not a madhouse like last time when we actually had a reservation and still it took forever for them to seat us.

--great waitress at the bar, great service

--enjoyed my temperanillo

--CH's beets and ricotta salad was tasty

--foraged mushroom pizza was fantastic: would return just for that

Cons:
--the pricing still doesn't seem quite right to me. I could get a whole bottle of wine for $18, but I never drink more than 2 glasses, and CH doesn't drink wine. But if I only want a glass, it costs me $10. Then I feel silly ordering a second glass when I could have had a whole bottle. If they are going to price the bottles so reasonably, why rip off people drinking by the glass?

--they shouldn't charge to bring a basket of bread
--there should be some more reasonable appetizers or small salads - everything is "family style" but CH and I don't like the same things so it gets expensive

--luckily I didn't order the kumbocha squash ravioli or the eggplant dish; the veg next to me at the bar said the first was great "if you like balsamic" (in my ravioli? hmmm.....glad I didn't order that one), and said she wouldn't recommend the eggplant, which she said was a new menu item

Still, my meal was delicious, so I'd go back. CH wasn't so enthusiastic, though. Let's see if we end up there again!

(oh, and we had a fantastic meal at Savory recently too - or at least I thought so and CH was less enthusiastic - but I have lots of things to do before I have time to post about it!)

Showing some love to Waters (Solana Beach)

I love, love, love Waters....But rather than repeat that over and over, let me just say what some of this week's loot was:

--egg salad (their egg salad happens to be fab, and is one of the only things CH and I both eat)

--albacore tuna salad (theirs is pretty much the only tuna salad I am willing to eat (v. grilled tuna). It's light, lemony, not mayonaisey - delicious. But it's expensive!

--vegetarian cassoulet: wowza. This was spectacular. it's the first time I saw it there, and I called to urge them to make it again! The beans were earthy but complemented with a crispy element (croutons, I think), alongside some yummy sauteed celery. I could eat this all winter.

--roasted yams and sweet potatoes = Afternoon snack candy

--mini lemon bars for Super Boy: he's growing into being such a considerate boy that he insisted on sharing the 2nd one with his babysitter instead of saving one for dinner (of course, come dinner time, he said, "Where's my treat?"as he imagined that something different would magically appear....)

--yukon gold mashed potatoes: for some reason, SB did not like these today, even though he went nuts for them a few months ago

No veg soup when I went - alas!

Sprinkles (La Jolla)

Tried Sprinkles one other time, wasn't that excited about the flavors CH brought.

Today, Super Boy and I tried the following ccs:
--Chocolate marshmellow for him
--Coconut for me

My coconut: super-delicious vanilla cake, fabulous coconut cream cheese frosting

His chocolate marshmellow: very tasty dark chocolate ganache (not fluffy but smooth), with a tasty dark chocolate cupcake and a marshmellow filling down the middle

He loved his - I liked it but wouldn't choose it as my own. I'd love to try more (mmmm....had to bypass the peanut butter chip), but would certainly love to have the coconut again.

Next to Waters: Siam Royal Thai Massage

Ok, this is not a food rec., but I can't resist since it was fabulous....and it's next to Waters.

Used a Groupon today at Siam Royal Thai Massage in Solana Beach. Thai massage is a lot different than traditional swedish or deep-tissue; they're moving you around a lot (forced yoga!) and also use their feet. But I have a killer headache and it was super relaxing (and helpful, I think - we'll see later in the day if it's really gone!). It was excellent quality for the groupon price ($33) and would also be a great value at the regular price ($66; 49 for your first time). Definitely worth a try if you have some childcare - and then you can go across the parking lot to Waters and bring home some yummy dinner!

Jyoti Bihanga/More on Urban Plates

Jyoti Bihanga: so freakin' delicious. When I first moved to SD and didn't know a ton of restaurants, I used to go there frequently. Now that I know so many more, and since CH doesn't eat veggie, I almost never go there. But when I make my yearly visit (usually with my visiting Mama), I am always struck by how yummy and fresh the food is. This time, I had a yummy fresh Indian kind-of-dal soup (it was not a traditional dahl); and the Buddha Burger, which was super-delish. Very wonderful bread, and a great veggie burger. Mom got the veggie stir fry, which she always loves and also the soup.

Urban Plates: Not always consistent. I think the salad has gone downhill. I wasn't wild about the kale (Jimbo's sesame kale is much better and the kale doesn't taste so raw and chewy). Mashed potatos are still good. The economics of meat/fish are interesting. For the $10 carve up, they give you massive quantities of steak if you order that, but only a little bit of ahi. I end up still hungry and CH is very full. I did enjoy the kids' pizzette that SB got (fabulous artisan bread crust), but he didn't.

Blue Point Coastal: Meh! (Gaslamp)

Now before I call Blue Point Coastal "meh," let me explain the standards by which I'm judging it.

Were I a tourist staying in the gaslamp, with an expense account, I probably would have found my meal and the atmosphere delightful. Atmosphere: buzzy yet elegant. Food: tasty.

And yet....I come already knowing the yummiest places around the county - AND knowing that the new chef, Daniel Barron, is a James Beard Award nominee for the Southwest, someone who got three stars at the restaurant he opened in NY, etc. So I'm going - and paying Blue Point Coastal prices ($30+ for entrees) - thinking this is going to elevate our local food standards and be super-exciting. I think he's known for molecular stuff too.

So in this context, when my food was merely tasty and normal, I say.... MEH!

Liked the atmosphere.

Liked the service.

Liked my St. Germain cocktail (had them custom-do something; cocktails on their signature menu seemed not up my alley for some reason).

Liked my spicy tuna wonton.

CH's salad: ok, boring.

Liked my thai basil crusted salmon with chevre polenta. Ate every morsel....and yet, it can't hold a candle to a Ricardo Heredia dish. Just plain "tasty" - not $32 tasty or James Beard nominee tasty or 3-star tasty.

My theory is that at this corporate Cohn restaurant in the Gaslamp, cooking for conventioneers, maybe he's had to dumb down his food. But as much as my meal and experience were perfectly fine, there's no need to go again - nor for my readers to try it!

If you want the fine dining experience in the gaslamp - go to Grant Grill! It's a whole lot more special - and quieter - and with more exciting food. If you want buzzy and great food - just go to Searsucker! It will still be cheaper, probably!

New York on Rye (roving food truck, deli)

The folks in front of me at the Miho line said this place has the best pastrami in SD:

http://newyorkonrye.com/

CH will have to check it out!

MIHO Gastrotruck (Carmel Valley); Yummy!

Hit Miho on High Bluff in Carmel Valley today.

Longish line, a fun and lively scene. (a bit of North Park crossed with office park!)

Food: great flavors. They actually messed up my grilled squash sandwich and only gave me the bottom half of it! But when I wrote them after lunch to double-check, they were very apologetic and told me that it is in fact supposed to be a sandwich with two pieces of bread, goat cheese, etc., and they sent me a coupon for a free entree. Even though the part I got by mistake wasn't filling, the flavors (grilled squash, spinach, rosemary focaccia, carmelized onions) were excellent. I'll definitely return to try more things.

Half a farro squash salad: $3.95 -tasty, very healthy, not quite as exciting in the flavors as the grilled squash sandwich.

Got lemon orzo soup for SB to eat at dinner ($3.25). He's all about the lemon. I tasted it - yum, light vegetarian broth, with celery etc.

They also had a bacon chocolate chip cookie which they were sold out of by the time I got there! (some disappointed folks!). And homemade drinks too which people thought were yummy.

Got to hit Miho again if I can remember when it's on High Bluff! Am interested in Foodfarm too but don't know much about it, and they never change the menu on their website.

Burlap (Carmel Valley): O how I love thee, Rachel the pastry chef!

I'm now settling into Burlap (3rd visit). I have decided I only like going on off-nights, catching up with a girlfriend in the comfy couches in the bar area. Feels much hipper and more intimate than the rest of the airport-hangar restaurant. (there are other places I like to go for dates with CH!).

Tonight's plan: Snake Oil cocktail, split some dishes, try a new Rachel King dessert (yes, I had to track down her last name - the (ungracious?) Brian Malarkey gives her no prominence on the websites for either restaurant, let alone post her dessert menus!).

We got:
--the Snake Oil guys' newest Burlap cocktail, a hibiscus something (the online menu also shows no love to them and doesn't list the cocktails); my favorite cocktail there so far, very subtle, not as crazy as the other "Asian-inspired" cocktails on their Burlap menu

--field greens salad: had gotten it before; this time there were persimmons instead of strawberries. This is still a yummy salad, and one of the better values on the menu, since 2 can split it for $7

--miso cod: Yelpers rave about this; it's tasty, but at $30 without any side dishes, not any better than the versions available around town for a fraction of the price; wouldn't order this again unless I had money to burn

--cauliflower with curry yogurt sauce: yum. love Brian Malarkey's cauliflower dishes, and this is a nice sized portion for $7

--Rachel's green tea mousse and condensed milk cake: I had gotten this before, but my companion, hiphopgirl, wanted to try it (and I said it was yummy). Still tasty: the crunchies (puffed rice here) were my fave.

--Rachel's new devil's food cake with homemade chocolate ice cream, chocolate ganache, chocolate square with ramen crunch, and creme anglaise. Super tasty. More well-balanced than any of the desserts I have had of hers so far - I liked the whole thing a whole lot. Fewer crunchies than on her other dishes, as it was a small smattering of ramen crunch on the chocolate square. But I ate this all up - it's a perfect chocolate dessert if one wants chocolate!

Still a steep tab: $90 pre-tip, including a shared salad, shared entree, shared side dish, 2 cocktails and 2 desserts. But for a splurgey girls' night out, I've now decided that Burlap is my place. (I'll still head to Searsucker for date night with CH, though!)

Don't cry for Red Robin (Carmel Valley)

So it's the big joke of the Ralph's shopping center renovation (Del Mar Highlands) that Red Robin is the big loser. It used to be packed on a Fri or Sat. because there were no other decent family-friendly choices in the neighborhood. With the Counter and the other restaurants open, no lines anymore at Red Robin. They can't be happy.

Well, we went tonight (SB wanted to play video games, which they do have there, and he was a good boy so he got to pick the restaurant). I remembered why it's never my first choice.

--slow service

--they can never get a veggie burger properly cooked. I appreciate that they allow you to sub in one for anything on the menu. But mine always comes out lukewarm. Today the sweet potato fries were lukewarm too.

I do appreciate the skinny margarita. It was kind of sickeningly sweet, but at 130 calories for something limey, drinkable and alcoholic that I could drink while I helped SB eat his grilled cheese, it was a nice treat.

I'm sure we'll go again - SB is not as picky about food as his dear old mom. But they deserve losing the business they're losing. I would have had a much better burger and dinner at the Counter!

Passage to India (Encinitas)

I never remember to go here, and think of it as dark and the service as not that friendly. But I hadn't been for maybe 3 years. Found myself between errands/meetings in Encinitas last week and decided to pop in here to get a fast meal and satisfy my Indian craving.

They actually have one of the better standard-issue Northern-Indian buffets in the county. Very large, lots of choice. And it was tasty. Some of the highlights:

--very fresh pakora

--delicious carrot halva (I didn't want to overeat so didn't try their gulab jamun, the other choice)

--4 or 5 veg curries

Price was steep relative to other buffets - $12.95. I'd of course rather just go to Sitar if I was over there and there was no line. But this was very good for a fast, filling, quality Indian meal.

There was a big table nearby of moms and their toddler girls, so you could make a lunch party out of it if you had toddler-in-tow and your toddler ate Indian food (SB doesn't anymore - so sad since his spice tolerance lowered dramatically after he turned 13 mos or so!)

Katana (Carmel Valley): So-so

Takeout from Katana (it has become a standby). It seems to be slipping, but not so much that we won't stop ordering, at least for now.

CH: liked his miso soup + chicken teriyaki

SB, getting over a tummyache a few days ago and still on modified BRAT to get him set for candy-day tomorrow, had miso soup, rice, and edamame and seemed content

Me: miso soup in styrofoam: tasted chemically
--edamame: really bland, most boring edamame ever
--Ichiko roll: not on the print menu; spicy fake crab, avo, tuna on top, spicy mayo: pretty tasty, with or without soy-wasabi; best part of the meal, reason I would still order again
--salmon nigiri: fine, inoffensive

I wish they were more consistent!

I love San Diego!!! (a post doped-up on veg Indian food)

I really need to get east of Scranton Road more often!!!

We are invited to a Diwali party tonight. Potluck Indian. No point cooking Indian - CH can't stand the smell of the spices. (this is why foodie mom snatches every possible opportunity to get her Indian food fix at lunch on the run). No problem, I thought: I'll head down during quiet time to grab some sweets at Surati Farsan market. It ain't home-cooked, but who's going to complain when I bring mango, coconut, rose, and pistachio sweets from Surati Farsan?

Got there - street fair in the Little India parking lot! They're just setting up, so there were still spots in the lot. But so much Diwali excitement in the air! Booths advertising veg Indian treat after veg Indian treat were set up, but not selling yet, which whetted my appetite.

Went in, got my sweets, headed to the car....but couldn't leave Little India without a savory Indian treat (too bad if I'm going to a potluck - I needed instant Indian gratification). So I headed right back into Surati Farsan for a snack.

SURATI FARSAN MARKET is so ridiculously tasty (I hate to say it, but even yummier than Sitar or Sher e Punjab). I never get savory stuff there, but I really should. Got a little bowl of dodhi chana curry, with one roti. Chana should be chickpeas, and they told me it was with kambocha squash; it was actually a kambocha-lentil combo. Ridiculously good - chemically ridiculously good. Good Indian food makes a happy-making reaction in my body (I'm not speaking figuratively - don't know exactly what causes it). A few bites and I was on a ridiculous Indian food high.

If you see this before the evening, head on down to Little India. How's that for an unexpected food adventure while on a short break from SuperBoy? I LOVE SAN DIEGO!!!

Urban Plates Takeout Review (Carmel Valley)

Trying more things on the menu....

Got a 4-Up tonight: 4 hot or cold sides instead of an entree.

Salad: uh-oh, this is not as exciting as when the place opened. Too much dressing and/or sitting around in a container with hot food and getting steamed?

Quinoa/edamame salad: still ridiculously tasty

Mashed potatoes: good, not in the same league as Tender Greens, though

Mushrooms/leeks: still good

Grilled bread: delicious

Also got the coconut-lemon cake for the first time. Super-yummy

And I loved stealing part of SB's whole wheat grilled cheese sandwich. They make the tastiest grilled cheese ever!

So overall, some less exciting notes, but still lots of tasty choices.

Fairouz (Sports Arena)

Delish dinner at Fairouz (the Palestinian - er make that "Greek/Middle Eastern" - place on Midway).

SB dressed up so he would look extra special. He knew George, the owner/host, would be happy to see him.

Some of SB's faves:
--lentil soup
--hummus and pita
--cooked carrots
--carrot halva dessert (with coconut and honey)
--sugar cookies

Cute Husband enjoyed:
--hummus and pita
--some kind of chicken :)
--spicy carrot salad

My faves of the night
--stewed green beans
--stewed zucchini
--lemony potatoes
--spicy chickpea salad
--hummus
--carrot halva
--rosewater pudding desserts

Wasn't as crazy last night about the okra, baba ghanoush, broccoli-quichey thing (unfamiliar name), lentil soup (ok, not super-delish).

Fairouz is wonderful because it's a fixed price ($13.95), you don't have to wait for your food to arrive, and they have a stamp card. So last night we got one free meal, and ate like princes for $20 for all 3 of us (with drinks). Yum!!

Alchemy + Somewhere Review (Old Globe) (or two Latinos that I love: Ricardo Heredia and Priscilla Lopez)

Sick Cute Husband on date night..... :( He didn't feel up to taking care of SB, so we kept the babysitter and I went on date night (Alchemy + theater) with Sabragirl.

Very quick....love, love, love Alchemy, even if every dish wasn't equally spectacular

--Farmer's Market salad: very good, yummy blue cheese was the best component for me (sabragirl loved the grilled onions and kept marvelling at the idea, which she needs to copy at home)

--Mixed Grain salad: this is one of his longtime veg classics on the menu, but I wasn't that excited about it. I get it: it's healthy, high fiber, low fat, low carb. But it's not as flavorful or exciting as other things. Was ok.

--Bourek: I wouldn't have ordered this (too carby and buttery), but Sabragirl wanted to check out how he made it. SUPER YUMMY!!!! LOVED LOVED loved it (phyllo horn stuffed with feta)

--INSIDE-OUT RAVIOLI: spectacular dish of the night; Ricardo Heredia is so creative. The filling is on the outside....it doesn't seem that spectacular til you see it. Super delicious flat pasta (would have been the filled ravioli); green pellets of spinach-ricotta; and flat crispy discs of parmesan cheese. Exciting, playful, etc.

Then we saw somewhere at the Old Globe. FANTASTIC. I will be shocked if this show doesn't transfer to Broadway, or at least to a major Off-Broadway theater. What a treat to see in the little Sheryl and Harvey White theater (and in the front row, inches away from Priscilla Lopez!). All of the actors were fabulous (Jon Rua is amazing, Juan Cardenas is rather hunky [not more than CH of course], and and Priscilla Lopez is.... f***ing Priscilla Lopez!). The whole audience was smiling during most of the show. It was delightful and happy-making but also complex, poignant, etc. There were certainly some moments of shock where we all held our breath. The second act needs shortening by 10 mins., but otherwise this is a DO NOT MISS PLAY, absolutely one of the best plays I've ever seen in SD (up there with Laramie Project, Jersey Boys, Memphis, and Sleeping Beauty Wakes). It is not a musical, but it's a family drama about a family that loves music, so there's some wonderful dancing. Here's a synposis: http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=8958.

Foodfarm Food Truck?

If you've tried this truck: http://www.foodfarmsd.com/category/menu/, please let me know! Sounds intriguing, hits CV on the same day (Wed.) as MIHO.

Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria (Encinitas): Takeout

We found ourselves in Solana Beach near dinner time on a cranky day for SB, and decided to call Blue Ribbon for takeout. The loot in short:

--still love the signature pizza: still don't like lemon in general but love love love this ricotta and lemon zest pizza

--still not crazy about their tomato-sauce based pies, but SB is fine with them

--sweet corn soup: CH and I agree that it's DYNAMITE. $10 a portion, but the portions are big enough for 2 generous bowls, so it's less obscene than it sounds. (Though it's cheaper than if Wade Hageman was still at Blanca!)

--salad with peaches, blue cheese, and almonds: absolutely fabulous; was thrilled to have some leftover for the next day

--butterscotch pudding: what more is there to say? It's salty and sweet and ridiculously tasty.

Not the best seating environment for Boy, but we have to remember to do takeout once in a while. Love WH's food!

And on a more modest note, must give a shoutout to Waters in Solana Beach for the fabulous albacore salad and roasted vegetables I had today....

Urban Plates (Carmel Valley): Curbside Pickup Review

After lots of reports from friends that they have had great experiences at Urban Plates in the last two weeks as they get more organized, I asked the boys if they wanted to go tonight. SB is usually up for a "re-trant" anytime I ask, but tonight he said, "No, Mommy, I'm too tired. I want to stay home." I was feeling toxic with white carbs (ate way too much potato kugel, challah and matza balls in the last few days), and had been craving a simple UP dinner of grilled tuna, salad and quinoa/edamame. CH proposed my giving their curbside service a try.

VERDICT: It's a wonderful service - you drive up to the back to the 10 min spots, call in, and they bring out your food....Only problem: they forgot my salad! However, when I phoned they were very gracious and not only took that portion of my food off, but my entire ahi plate. So I will definitely give it another try; I take it as opening kinks, and it was very good customer service of them to comp my entree altogether.

FOOD: CH ordered a margarita pizzette. He wasn't thrilled with it (he thought it would have sauce, not be cheese, basil, and whole tomatoes). However, SB loved it and ate it all up.

--Urban Kids: SB got grilled cheese again. Since he was eating Dada's pizzette, I ate some of his sandwich. Ridiculously tasty ww bread, perfectly toasted. A very respectable sandwich. I resisted the homemade chips, since I'm trying to do carb detox. SB also ate my grilled ciabatta.

--My ahi platter. Very nice. But the real revelation this time was the QUINOA EDAMAME SALAD. Fantabulous. Healthy and cravable.

--Red pepper soup: This is the one item I still don't really like there. Tried it on the pre-opening and they were perfecting it. I don't really like it. It's too bad it's their only daily veg. soup and it's not that yummy.

Overall, I'm happy to keep exploring the delicious menu and will give curbside pickup another try!

Burlap Return (Carmel Valley): Just for Drinks and Desserts!

Mr. Manvite had a similar reaction to me on Burlap: he posted on Yelp that he also found it overwhelming and not entirely pleasant, even if it's very buzzy and calculated to make you spend lots!

I tried it again, as planned, with just a friend for a Girls' Night Out at non-peak times. Was half empty. Got cocktails and dessert only.

Cocktail: Those Snake Oil Guys are funny. The drinks at Burlap do not sound delicious at all from reading the menu. But my friend got the Effervescent (or Luminescent?), the basil drink I got last time, and loved it as I had. I tried the Dragons' Fury (thai pepper in a cocktail?) but actually found it quite yummy.

Dessert: Rachel lives! But this time I liked her cakes rather than her crunchies. We got condensed milk cake (delicious), with condensed milk ice cream (not memorable) and green tea mousse (pretty good). And also the almond panna cotta, which was outstanding and had the most ridiculous plum tamarind gel which put the crunchies on the plate to shame.

MY CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

1. this place is fine when it's "not busy" (= very noisy by regular-restaurant standards, but half-empty by the Walmart of restaurants standard it is trying to set).

2. Rachel (does she have a last name?) is now second to Jack Fischer in my pantheon of San Diego pastry chefs. So far I've never liked everything on her plates, but I've tried 4 of them, and each has had some kind of spectacular component that made me want to come back and have more of her delightful creations.

I'll be back for Rachel's desserts on a non-busy night in the bar. I'll leave the restaurant to the see-and-be-scene folks and head back to Searsucker when I'm in the mood for tasty Malarkey food in a fun (but not hangar-like) setting!

Katana (Carmel Valley): A bad night?

Just a note that we got the most questionable sushi we've ever gotten from Katana. I've always liked the Ex-Girlfriend roll, but some of the fish on it was kind of yuk. My salmon skin hand roll also had some questionable fish in it (I really didn't want to finish it).

The agedashi tofu, which we never tried before, was pretty tasty.

It's not like Katana is the best sushi in the world, but it's been generally reliable for tasty enough sushi. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come!

Urban Plates Revisit (Carmel Valley): Some Kinks to Work out!

My pre-opening experience at Urban Plates was so exciting that I took the boys back as soon as we had an opportunity (last night when I returned from work and had not made dinner!).

FOOD: Just as exciting as on Sat. (see below)

SERVICE/ORG: Has some kinks that need to be worked out! Now, we went on their *second day* of operation, and it's a cafeteria line with lots of stations, where people are grilling and slicing food fresh, not just ladling it out. But Super-Boy was not really Super-Boy - things took long enough that he was bouncing off the walls and CH was about ready to declare the place a bust.

HOWEVER, the owners are super-keen on getting this place right and are already tinkering and improving. Their goal is that people will get their plate of food within a minute after they order. We were at more like 8-10 mins., but when we talked to the owner, she had some wonderful ideas for why things were crazy on day #2 and how things would improve. They have a wonderful concept, and CH agreed when he sat down that the food is EXCELLENT and healthy and tasty. Here are some of the things they're going to do:

--set up web ordering like Specialty's. Not only can you pick up curbside, but they even might allow you to order ahead for eat in! That would be fabulous for a family like us, that wants the eat-out experience but has impatient kids that want to eat right away. Of course, as CH conceded to Pat the owner, if they do manage to get the timing down to one minute, then we won't need to do that.

--they also see that they are way more popular than they expected, and because they have an INSANE PASTRY SELECTION, they realize they need to have more room in the kitchen than they thought. They're running their kitchen 24 hrs a day right now!

There's probably more to say but I'm exhausted and need my working mom sleep! I wanted to post in case anyone saw my first post and then is disappointed by the initial ordering experience. I think they will work it out, but in the meanwhile the food is delish!

And speaking of food, here's what we got:

--grilled veg sandwich: I got this with roasted root vegetables and summer squash saute: yum; plus a fresh farmer's market salad on the side (yum) and homemade potato chips (good, drat!); I wish I could have gotten farmer's bread but they only had ciabbata

--Urban Kids grilled cheese for SB (on ww): very delicious, plus fruit salad he loved and those homemade chips

--CH got carved turkey, a side salad, and homemade stuffing: he was grumpy on the confusing line but then conceded that the food was good

DESSERT: red velvet cupcake (very lemony - I'm not a lemon person, but this was a serious cupcake) and chocolate truffle cupcake (YUM! except it had coffee flavoring on the frosting and CH and SB don't like coffee - it should be marked! but I ate more than I planned because I thought it was awesome!)

Urban Plates Review (Carmel Valley): A Huge Addition to the Neighborhood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to regret posting this, since I am going to be contributing to making this place very crowded, and I hope it doesn't get too crazy too fast!

I had a very exciting and unexpected adventure today. I went to Jimbo's to grab some lunch while the boys were on an outing, and saw that Urban Plates (one of the new places which has been under construction in the Del Mar Highlands shopping center) had finally lost its scaffolding...and was open!

It turned out to be a private pre-opening event (opening day is Mon., Sept. 19). But the nice young woman at the door told me I could go in anyway. They were serving their menu for free for a selected group of invitees....plus little old moi.

CONCEPT: Ok, I was dreaming that this place was going to be like Waters: it had been advertised as upscale takeout for families, or you could eat there. To my surprise, it is nothing like Waters....but it is like Tender Greens....only maybe even better! One moves through a cafeteria line, and can either get salads with grilled proteins (steak, chicken, turkey or tuna), à la Tender Greens ($10);
--or grilled proteins on a plate with 2 sides (hot or cold) ($10)
--or grilled protein sandwiches with 1 side ($10)
--or pizzettes ($5)

They describe themselves as farm-to-table without high prices. Really, it's modelling itself after Tender Greens, but there are many more choices. Instead of the TG model, which requires you to get a green salad and mashed potatoes along with your grilled protein, here your choices include: beet salad, quinoa with edamame, grilled mushrooms and leeks....or you could have mashed potatoes if you really wanted (I'm leaving out about 10 other choices of hot or cold veggie sides). Oh - and just like TG, they have *fabulous* grilled bread - only theirs is made in house (I chatted with the chefs - did I mention it was super exciting to stumble out of my house in my I'm-squeezing-in-work-and-I-haven't-showered-yet clothes, and to find myself in a culinary wonderland?). They also have a soup station ($4) and a dessert station (more on that in a moment) and wines by the glass.

DECOR: *Love* the design. It is so pleasant - it fits very well with farm-to-table. Bright colors, open space, contemporary design, nice wood tables.

KIDDIE CHOICES: Their "Urban Kids" station includes gourmet m&c, grilled cheese, organic pb&J and several other yummy-looking meaty things I'm forgetting. They come with fruit salad and organic chips, but I bet they'd let you sub a salad.

SERVICE: Everyone was super-nice, and even though it's cafeteria style, there were hordes of energetic, friendly servers circulating once you sat to see if you needed something. I'm sure this was especially for the soft-opening, but it boded well.

WHAT I SAMPLED:
--grilled ahi plate (good), with beet salad (awesome) and mashed potatoes (yum, just as good as TG)
--grilled bread (yum....white carbs are too tempting)
--roasted red pepper soup and veggie curry soup (both tasty)
--mushroom pizzette (very tasty)

DESSERT: Ok, this place is *ridiculous.* The choices are overwhelming, and the cakes are beautiful like at Cafe Zinc. I watch Top Chef desserts weekly and salivate, then get disappointed when the desserts at nice places in SD are just ok (Rachel's crunchies at Burlap aside). These cakes were all ridiculously tasty looking (plus there are cookies, brownies, and other desserts I'm blocking out). I ordered the strawberry-almond cake - it was out of this world moist, with light as air frosting, and delicious strawberry jam inside. They gave me a nice to-go box, so I actually brought this home to share with Super Boy. We both loved it.

My prediction: this is quickly going to become the most popular place in Carmel Valley. People will flock there with their children, or they'll flock there if they don't have children. It's healthy if you want it to be (or decadent if you don't), simple, tasty, and reasonable. (Of course, if you get an entree and a soup and a dessert, you're at $20 very quickly for a cafeteria, but for the quality of food in Carmel Valley, it's still very exciting).

LOVE IT, CAN'T WAIT TO BRING THE BOYS! (and don't spread the word too much, or the line will be out the door and it won't be toddler-friendly anymore!!)

Barrio Star (Bankers Hill): Yum!

Got a Living Social Deal for Barrio Star a few months ago and was delighted to have a chance to use it for a revisit (with a friend, since CH declined!).

Ordered:
--Barrio Margarita (relatively low-cal, since fresh lime juice and fresh agave): delish, but not very much of it
--Plantains with chipotle cream (lighter, tastier french fries, essentially)
--chopped Mexican Salad: delicious and very large

--barrio bowl, with tofu; sub power rice for coconut rice (includes coconout chili sauce, power greens, black beans): same thing I got last time; super-delicious, worth returning for again

--pineapple mint agua fresca: yum!

Companion (she is nicknameless, first time going out with her) got steak tacos, which she said were very tasty (though just as small as I had predicted).

With Living Social deal, was not super-cheap but was cheaper than it would have been. Will definitely return! It's so convenient too for a post-meal walk across the Cabrillo Bridge and into the Park and back to burn off some of that margarita!

Apollonia (La Jolla): revisit

I just want to show some love to Apollonia. We had a quick bite after a Nobel Park outing today. We always forget how kid-friendly (at least ST-friendly) they are. They don't have a kids' menu per se, and there's no mac and cheese etc. But they have crayons, fast and efficient service, and ST loves the:

--humus and pita, which arrives super-fast
--delicious lentil soup
--greek salad with olives, feta, tomatos and a yummy lemony dressing
--plenty of space to wander with Dad, plus a bar with a TV to peek at the football game.

I loved my: taramosalata, grilled salmon + spanaki lemonato. CH had a light meal of lemon-chicken soup and some of ST's humus.

All around, a very pleasant evening out with toddler in tow. (He is getting so big he'll need to be called Super-Boy soon).

Burlap Restaurant Review: Overwhelmed in the Strip Mall (Carmel Valley)

CH and I finally hit Burlap last night. I'm still deciding what I think. On the one hand, we both didn't like it nearly as much as its mother-ship Searsucker in the Gaslamp. However, I am still in shock about how enormous the restaurant is and how *packed* it was at 6 pm on a Sat. I've been talking about all day.

DECOR: Holy crap, this was the Wherehouse? I love Searsucker, cuz it's exciting and warehousy and feels like Grand Central Station. But Burlap is like Walmart in comparison, or even a fancy and ornately-decorated hangar - I found it very disorienting, not only because it makes Searsucker seem intimate, but because it is very weird to have this giant, buzzy, packed space - complete with patio, koi pond, etc. - on the edge of the strip mall in the midst of suburbia.

MENU: Again, overwhelming. How does this kitchen turn out that many different dishes - well and efficiently - to such a gigantic crowd? It is impressive. On the other hand, we didn't find the menu as exciting as Searsucker - the Asian cowboy theme is maybe not for us. There were also just too many choices. But there certainly is something for everyone. For vegetarians, for instance, there is not a veg entree, but lots of veg small plates: an heirloom tomato and tofu salad; enoki mushroom salad; oyster mushroom cured ceviche style, edamame; sweet potato fries; and a whole lot of "sides", like wild rice stir fry with cactus or garlic noodles or cauliflower with curried yogurt (I didn't try any of these yet, since I decided to choose from the overwhelming list of fish options).

Oh - and MALARKEY SIGHTINGS: There seem to be more of these at Burlap these days, as he and his hat circulated on the patio. Back to the food....

SAVORY FOOD: We got:
--truffle miso soup (CH): Some Yelpers said it was ordinary, not that different from regular miso; CH enjoyed it; I thought it was just ok til I hit the scrumptious mushrooms he left over at the bottom.

--green salad (with walnuts, strawberries, plum dressing) (me): Absolutely delightful. Great salad just like at searsucker.

--half-chicken with steamed buns (CH): this was from the "rotisserie" section of the menu and it was enormous for $10. CH liked it. Kept saying that it is not as good as Searsucker, though.

--snow peas and ham (CH): nice-sized veg side; he liked it, can't vouch for it myself. :)

CH was very sated with a soup + half-chicken + side dish (=only $23). He left most of the chicken over.

In addition to my salad, I got two of the "left-column of the menu choices" (they have categories too complicated to remember: raw? satay? there's no such thing as an "appetizer" here). The waitress said that would be plenty of food.

--salmon belly satay: tasty and well-cooked, but not that big.

--tuna two ways: The waitress really plugged this, but at $14, it was much smaller than I expected. It was essentially a tiny and less spiced scoop of Searsucker's tuna + screaming rooster dish, plus three little squares of cured tuna. I would have orderd a veg side dish instead of one of these fish appetizers and been a lot more satisfied. So at $7 + 7 + 14 = $28, I was still pretty hungry.

WINE: I love Searsucker because every glass I've ordered has been fabulous, even if $10+. At Burlap, I got a Rhone Blend for $12, which sounded like the most interesting of the white choices. It was ok - not bad, but not that exciting.

At this point of the meal, we both agreed that Burlap (despite the crowds who seem to be very happy there) was just not that exciting for us, and we'd be happy to stick with Searsucker.

HOWEVER, the Snake Oil COCKTAIL co. guys saved the day (Yay, Ian and the other guy!!) At first, the cocktails struck me as too weird: Asian-ginger themed cocktails are not my thing. But since all of the whites-by-the-glass seemed boring and I didn't want to switch to red with my fish, I decided to give their lime-basil-martini thing a try. HOLY YUMMY AND HOLY STRONG! I think the secret to a good time at a Malarkey joint is to start with a Snake Oil Cocktail. Everything seems fabulous and delicious after you drink it.

Which brings me to DESSERT....

Whether it was because the strong cocktail made me very drunk - or because Rachel the pastry chef (who has left Searsucker to be on-site at Burlap) is newly inspired - DESSERT WAS THE BEST PART OF THE MEAL. So wonderful, that in my drunk state, I kept declaring to my wonderful Cute Husband: I love Rachel, I want to marry Rachel. (I never met Rachel, and I was not that excited when I got her red velvet cake at Searsucker the only time I was ever not so full that I had room for dessert there). But at Burlap, I was ready to become a polygamist so she could make dessert for me every night.

--My carrot cake, recommended by the waitress: kind of boring. HOWEVER, the crunchy things on the plate around the carrot cake: RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. They were some kind of pineapple nut brittle. Again, RIDICULOUSLY TASTY.

--CH's bittersweet chocolate tart with chocolate ice cream and more chocolate crunchy things (peanut/caramel/chocolate?). CH thought his tart was "ok, good." He thought his chocolate ice cream was amazing. And me: I scooped up all the RIDICULOUSLY TASTY crunchy things, because evidently Rachel is the queen of all things sweet and crunchy.

The other things on the dessert menu (condensed milk cake with green tea mousse and carmelized puffed rice; almond panna cotta with tamarind caramel and almond crunch, lemongrass tapioca with a coconut sorbet) all sounded very delicious - more exciting than any dessert menu I've seen recently.

So here is my TEMPORARY VERDICT (I'm still processing the place). I am not sure whether I will go there again for dinner. Again, it's kind of overwhelming. But I'm ready to have a girls' night out on a *weeknight* after bedtime (more mellow, less crowded - they told me it's not as bad outside of Th/F/Sat) to have a snake oil cocktail + some more dessert from Rachel. For now, those are the two things about Burlap that excite me....though it's too bad that I live a little too far away to walk the cocktail off at the end of the night!

New and improved Del Mar Farmers' Market! + Viva Pops and Sicilian Thing again...

ST and I were heading to the Flower Hill Farmers Market this morning....when we realized there was no FHFM this morning! A web check at home confirmed that that market is RIP as of two weeks ago. Well, we only went once, so we weren't keeping it in business. We decided we'd either hit Del Mar this afternoon or Fairbanks tomorrow.

Whoa!!! Who took the Del Mar market and put it on steroids? Today's market was much bigger than I remember. Plus they had a scavenger hunt for kids, which included a prize of a free fruit drink from Gina's (ST, ever the gourmand, selected watermelon lemonade). There are some new vendors, so we had some wonderful choices. We came home with a lot of fruit and veggie loot. Oh - and Randy Gruber of Americana was on hand cooking up fresh food with market goodies. I have been to Americana 2x and never got overly excited about it....but my oh my, he did a fabulous job with black cod and the market vegetables (green beans, corn, tomatoes). Loved it! We saw Mr. Manvite and his family there - he said he is a happy customer of Americana. We should probably try it again!

We also visited Sicilian Thing recently, where I was reminded how delicious its pizza is (I think it's better than Bongiorno's consistently, but CH says when Mike Bongiorno himself is on hand, Bongiorno's still wins). Loved my nino espinosa + barack-oli ricotta. ST tries Sicilian for the first time, and declared that he preferred it over thin-crust. That's my adventurous eater!

And at viva pops later, ST selected strawberry (he's allowed to choose the familiar now and then). At the next table, a mom had mango-chili and was raving about it. I think I have yet to try that one.

Happy feet! (Happy Buddha Foot Reflexology, Convoy)

I had no time for a foodie adventure today, but I did have very sore feet and a sore body all around. I decided to sneak over for an hour to Happy Buddha Foot Reflexology - aka the place right next to Dumpling Inn (Convoy). (Mmmmm.....Dumpling Inn). It was ABSOLUTE BLISS and at a ridiculously low price, $30 for one hour of foot reflexology plus neck, scalp, arms and legs (they probably save on overhead because everyone is worked on in one quiet room, nail salon style). SO RELAXING. I had forgotten how good this place was (I think we went once together pre-parenthood, and CH goes occasionally). The work on my feet did not really hurt at all, and the rest was super relaxing. It's an absolute must-try!

And if you have more time than I did, you can stop next door afterwards at Dumpling Inn for some of my faves:
--spinach egg flower soup OR veg hot and sour soup
--kung pao sea bass or black bean sea bass
--Chinese tender greens
--CH likes the dumpling soup and pretty much all their chicken or beef dishes
--homemade noodles
--veggie dumplings

I'm forgetting lots of dishes.....

Salazar's (Downtown/East Village): Too disappointing!

We took ST to the Festival of Sail today downtown. Tons of fun - and pirates! We decided to get Mexican food on the way home. I suggested Lucha Libre: last time we went, ST raced out into traffic, so CH wasn't ready to try it again. He suggested El Indio (but sometimes the lines are long and ST would get impatient). So I thought of Salazar's at 15th and Market. MuseumGirl and I had a great meal there 2 yrs ago after getting a rec. from a friend. They have their own parking lot. It seemed a good idea to try again.

Oh no! First of all, one poor woman was working as the only waitress, the only busgirl and the cashier. Emptied tables full of rotting food sat around through our whole meal. It took *forever* for any of our food to come. ST had a major tantrum (I don't blame him given how long it took, but it wasn't fun). I was kicking myself for suggesting the place at all, though I have to admit that when the food came it was pretty good (I got a fish burrito with fish sauteed in ranchero sauce, with some very tasty pinto beans and rice and fresh avocado slices). ST's guac was bland but just right for him.

But leaving all the dishes out forever was just disgusting and made me wonder about the cleanliness of my food. Waiting that long with Super-Toddler is just not going to happen again either. Oh well! It's rare I make a really bad call. Too bad for me!

Fifty Six & Five restaurant review (Carmel Valley)

Got a Living Social deal for "Fifty Six and Five" (the new name for Sydney's in the Doubletree Del Mar) and decided to give it a try.

Not a bad destination with a toddler, especially with a deal. Beautiful decor, but lots of room to run around the lobby and to the pool area to blow off steam between courses. The staff was very friendly (ST was very tickled when after dressing himself in his best collar shirt, the room service staff keep greeting him with a cheerful "Good evening, sir" or "Hello, my friend" as he raced around the lobby). It was generally relaxing, and nice to get a glass of wine with some decent food (I got grilled halibut tacos with a somewhat interesting chipotle sauce, CH got some chicken).

It certainy is not perfect. They screwed up CH's order at first and he had to wait while we ate. The service was friendly but slow. The salad was trying to be better than it was (the restaurant's concept is farm to table - the salad was like spring mix from Ralph's with a bottled red wine vinaigrette). Ditto the food.

I don't think we'd return paying full price (ie, $19 for 3 fish tacos, $7.50 for a glass of ok Kendall Jackson chardonnay). But for a deal we'd consider it; it was a nice change of pace on an evenine we didn't feel like cooking!

Groupon today for El Nopalito (Encinitas)

El Nopalito is a place we've gone with ST twice (I've reviewed before). I think it's really delicious, plus a nice authentic atmosphere (families, guys watching mexican soccer on TV). Delicious salsa and chips and a great veggie burrito. Worth trying it with the groupon if you haven't been there before!

Quick takes: Orange County

ST headed off to grandma's last weekend, and CH and I headed up for a southern OC mini-vacation.

Food:
--Still love WATERMARC in Laguna. CH not so much. We even saw some mover-and-shaker San Diegans up there; they were visiting for the first time. I've reviewed the restaurant in greater detail when we went last time, but it's not like any place I know in SD. It's kind of like Searsucker in concept (it's older) but much more intimate and less warehousey. The food and cocktails are amazing.

--Tried RAYA in Laguna Niguel for the first time (in Ritz Carlton). They gave us outstanding service, and we were so impressed with the food. TV-quality molecular type presentations, but wonderful wonderful flavors. Amazing bread basket; CH said his sweet corn soup was the best soup he ever had; my watermelon/tomato geometric pyramid of a dish was delicious. CH liked his chicken dish (though it wasn't in the same category as his soup). I decided to get a "plain ol' vegetable plate," because I guessed that the chef would do something interesting with it. It was absolutely scrumptious, flavorful, interesting, not boring - but also healthy. Dessert was less interesting. But we would definitely return next time we can sneak away to the OC (it ain't Hawaii, but it's as far as we get on our own these days!).

Lots of Quick Takes: San Diego

--Delicious meal today at OFF THE HOOK SEAFOOD GRILL in Encinitas. It is conveniently located near one of the best oil change places around (the place next to the AM/PM at Leucadia Blvd. just east of Garden View). Had been planning to eat while I got the oil change at KC Tandoor (which I don't give enough love to on this blog, but is very respectable Indian food for Encinitas, and fast). It was closed, so I wandered over to Off the Hook. OUTSTANDING! A great food concept, and very kid-friendly. Any grilled fish you choose, either in salad, sandwich, bowl or plate form, with the flavor/sauce of your choice. I chose garlic olive oil. For about $11, I got a massive slab of grilled cod, over a bed of brown rice and very delicious sauteed vegetables. Very healthy, delicious and fast (order at the counter, then they bring your food).

--Recent repeat visit to EL CALLEJON, which is a perennial favorite of super-toddler and us. I got the pescado zarandeado. Didn't enjoy as much as the other fish dishes I've ordered but it was good. It's in the regular rotation.

--Took a coworker to CHARISMA. Still among my fave restaurants. It's too much of a secret in Hillcrest, though - lots of neighborhood folks still haven't heard of it. I hope it stays in business!

--Went to Champagne bakery in CV with Super-Toddler when all the other restaurants in the DM heights shopping center were too crowded. It was not as bad as I thought (I've always thought it was fake French and not as exciting as it should be considering how beautiful the pastries look). They had a very decent kids' menu, I got to have a glass of wine and some decent food, and ST had plenty to look at (however, the brand-new escalator in the mall was too confusing for him). We can't wait til Mia Francesca and Davanti Enoteca open - we're hoping they'll be good options in that area.

--And yes regular readers, CH and I will be heading soon to Burlap! We were waiting for the kinks to be worked out.

Sleeping Beauty Wakes + Barolo

Food first: Barolo. It's ok. Have been before. Charisma makes all random Italian restaurants in SD boring (just like we can't eat at any random Chinese places since we found Dumpling Inn, except Rendez-vous as a substitute). Decent, healthy minestrone. Eggplant parm fine. Paso Robles Peachy Canyon - eh. Even for $7.50, don't like getting cheap, unripe wines. Dessert (choc/coconut cake), ok. Served its purpose - not cravable though. Still on the hunt for good pretheater dining for the LJP.

Play: Sleeping Beauty Wakes at the La Jolla Playhouse. Absolutely stunning - a thing of beauty. CH liked it less than me, but conceded after Act 2 that it "has potential." If you are a parent, especially, and/or a romantic and/or someone who has lost someone you love and/or love modern music in musicals (Groovelily is awesome), it is an absolute must-see.

Well worth the sitter this evening!

Burlap Preview (Carmel Valley)

Haven't been to Burlap yet (I went to Searsucker on opening night instead!), but have been checking Yelp to see what people think. Opinions are divided between:

Delicious and aweseome and hip in the suburbs....

and

Who they hell do they think they are sticking a bouncer at the door in the strip mall?

Am determined to try - and maybe even bring the ever-well-behaved Super-Toddler, since it claims to be kid-friendly (plus they have edamame and koi ponds, so he should be perfectly happy). But we're waiting for the kinks to get worked out. We might as well go when they are able to execute as quickly as the badasses at Searsucker.

If you go, please let me know how it is!

Katana revisit (Carmel Valley)

Katana has a huge menu, and it's a place we've been going back to once a month or more with ST. It's quite good overall, and very toddler-friendly so it works. But the rolls are a bit hit or miss, so it's good to remind myself what I liked (and then search later!).

Today I got:
--baked mountain roll
--tuna tartar

CH got:
--"crispy chicken" app + soup + salad + rice

ST got:
--salad + rice + cubed tofu + miso

ST was thrilled as usual with his food, plus the X-Games on the screens.

CH was not happy he ordered something new: he thought the crispy chicken would be more well-done grilled, and it was chicken fingers. Luckly he wasn't very hungry.

Me: The tuna tar tar salad was not really tartare (in that it wasn't haché). But it was quite tasty. Cubed raw tuna, with avo, on a bed of mixed greens, with a yummy slightly spicy-sweet dressing. The kicker on the plate (which I wasn't expecting): crispy tempura-ed rice balls. Very delicious...and very not on my no-white-carbs-if-possible eating plan. They were too yummy - I ate more "tastes" than I wanted to.

--Mountain roll: I have to remind myself that this is a mess of a sushi roll. Too much sauce on the salmon. Tasty, but I'd rather get something healthier. I set out to have healthy raw fish tonight, and ended up with a stomach full of fried white rice balls and the goopy sauce on the mountain roll. (Ditto Alaska roll, which has an alfredo-like "truffle-in-name-only" sauce on it).

Overall, still like Katana a lot as a tasty, somewhat hip family-friendly option. But should go back to the delicious and riceless ex-girlfriend roll for me, and the beef bulgogi or chicken teriyaki for CH!

Quick takes; Searsucker, Counter

Visited Searsucker yet again, during the Comic-Con frenzy. At first I worried the place was losing its dazzle: kind of stale cheddar puffers came out, and the server took a long while to get to us.

However, WHEW! It's still my fave restaurant. Once the server came she was fabulous.

Some highlights:

-glass of Faranghina: she told me it was like pinot grigio, but more complex, and a great food wine. Wow! She was right. Not insubstantial at all, tasted better as I ate. Yummy! Love the alcohol list at Searsucker.

--tuna + crowing rooster: WOWZA. Loved it but would never order it again. a) super-delicious and b) painfully spicy. I ate the whole thing (it was painfully enjoyable) but would not do it next time.

--watermelon/tomato/ricotta salad: Yum. Smart server brought it after my tuna, since she knew it would cool me off.

--carrot/sugar snap pea/pistachio-dine side. Delicious.

Oh, and when I asked the server if he could get some fresher puffers....they came right out, fresh and scrumptious.

Love Searsucker! Even had a Malarkey sighting at the end of the night, plus saw B-Real from Cypress Hill.

COUNTER DEL MAR

Just want to add that we've now taken Cute Husband, and I am still crazy for this place as a place to go with Super Toddler. So much healthier and more delicious than Red Robin/Coco's/other family-type restaurants. I get a veggie burger on a bed of delicious greens - I don't even like salad and it's super yummy. The grilled vegetables are also delicious.

Taverna Blu Revisit (Carmel Valley)

Took the boys to Taverna Blu (had been on my own).

Still good to have a decent place in the hood, not the greatest place ever.

Had salmon, grilled vegetables, salad. All tasty, but salmon and grilled veggies swimming in butter.

CH liked his gyro pita, but didn't like the garbanzo mix, which turns out to be deep-fried chickpeas (fair food!).

ST liked his salad, french fries and humus (not to mention the great music and patio atmosphere), though he is burping a lot after (who knows from what).

Also had a glass of Luna pinot grigio - nice to go to a place with ST where I can get a nice glass of wine.

Friendly service, though food all came out at once (not salads then entrees).

Will undoubtedly return - it's easy enough. But it's not super-healthy!

Returns to Giuseppe's (Balboa Park) and Viva Pops (Normal Heights)

Quick takes:

Visit to the train museum in Balboa Park for ST today requires lunch afterwards! The trick with Giuseppe's: one person heads ahead, orders at the to-go counter. Others can show up after with no waiting and still sit at the tables in the back. Still love my Giuseppe's special with portabella swapped for chicken. CH had never been to Giuseppe's, and agreed that the salad dressing is super-yum (he ordered a chicken parm special and enjoyed it). ST loved his pizza (I snuck some - delish, Italian-style). Love Giuseppe's - best setting and delicious food.

And of course we went to Viva Pops on the way home. ST ordered a dairy-based lemon-rose popsicle. Tasted it, LOVED it and I don't even like lemon really (but the rose notes were so strong that it was delicious to me, and super-good for my lemon-loving son). I got goat-cheese-lavender-honey. Can someone say yummy? I think I'd order what ST got next time, but I had a delicious goat-cheese taste in my mouth and chilled feeling in my insides for quite a while after.

All that delicious food on a hot day made Foodie Mom take one long nap. Gotta find my boys!

Another visit to Katana (Carmel Valley)

Another successful meal with ST at Katana.

Cubed tofu + edamame + salad + miso soup + rice PLUS Nascar on television = one very happy and well-behaved Super-Toddler.

(Is he a healthy eater or what? My adventurous boy even decided to try pickled ginger and seaweed. Didn't like the first, kind of intrigued by the latter - "is it from my ocean?").

I ate ex-girlfriend roll (still my fave, riceless) + another special albacore role that was on the 50% off list. I was not into the albacore on top at all - I thought it was a little grody (though I liked the spicy tuna/masago mix inside the roll). I would get something different next time.

Cute Husband ordered beef bulgogi there for the first time (it's really a Korean fusion place anyway) and he thought it was very good.

No balloons for kids anymore, but we'll certainly return!

Cucina Italiana Review (Clairemont)

Sometimes I get busy at work and don't blog for weeks. Note to self: then you forget if you liked a place or not - gotta at least type something quick!

ST sat through his first full-length movie today, Cars 2. He was a trooper even though it was scarier than the original. After, we headed to Cucina Italiana (same mall). Went in February - thought I liked it but hadn't blogged and couldn't really remember.

Verdict: Very tasty. Definitely worthwhile if we're at the movies.

Setting: Pleasant patio, good heat lamps, lots of good people and dog watching. Kept ST entertained.

Service: Very friendly and fast. Brought bread quickly (not a fan of the too oregano-y dipping sauce, though). Brought us cups of a yummy pasta fagiole very quickly.

Food: My eggplant parmagiana was very tasty - the appetizer portion was a reasonable size for not being terribly hungry for dinner. ST's pizza was actually quite good - not NY style of course, but the mozzarella was not just plain ol' - it had a very interesting character. The tomato sauce was good too, and the crust was less crispy than we're used to but very tasty. I liked it and ST thought it was really good. CH had a salad with prosciutto and thought it was fine.

Prices: Reasonable.

Verdict: Certainly worth another visit, and a try if you're in the area. It's no Charisma, but I enjoyed it very much.

Another note to self: Try to find a different place in Little Italy than Mimmo's - we need a change, and it's not that exciting (or reasonable) when you have to do waiter service!

Another visit to Poseidon (Del Mar)

Another out-of-town guest: another fabulous meal with Super-Toddler in tow at Poseidon in Del Mar!

ST: Quesadilla + fruit cup + surfers and trains to watch + lemonade + chocolate gelato for dessert = one very happy and well-behaved Super-Toddler (though some of his silly faces and antics did provide lots of amusement for neighboring tables)

Me: Wild halibut + fennel + edamame + parsnip puree + kalamata olive sauce = one very happy high-protein, low-carb-eating me! (oh - and their house salad is also good, but I loved the sunset margarita I ordered too)

CH: Chicken stir-fry: he thought it was ok, not great.

Always happy to go to Poseidon!

Healthy vegetarian food at the SD County Fair (Del Mar)

I know, I know....the post title seems ridiculous. After all, isn't the fair for Chicken Charlie's Fried Twinkies and Fried Koolaid?

But Foodie Mom is trying to shed some of her foodie pounds, so it's not fried season for me. Plus I've gone to the fair 5 times already (2x with Super Toddler and 3x for concerts). Here are some of my favorite foods at the fair that just happen to be healthy and delicious.

--Roxy: Baked Falafel Burger: My perennial fair favorite. Really tasty (ask for it baked instead of fried).

--Baked sweet potato next to the corn shack. They try to get you to buy toppings, but it doesn't need any. Tastes yummy like jasmine just baked. A real treat!

--Palapa Taco's Healthy Veg Burrito: Herbal tortilla, veg beans, lots of veggies and soy cheese. Sounds crazy to eat at the fair and kind of questionable, but was super yummy, high fiber, low fat, etc. They also have a spinach wrap.

--Grilled corn next to the sweet potatos (near O'Brien Gate). Always good.

--I did sneak some kettle corn before one of the shows too.

The cheese pizza that the boys have been getting is gross wherever they get it from, and my friend's BBQ today was so bad (soggy fries, etc.) that she returned it. The chili fries she got from Fresh Friez afterward were much better.

There is healthy yummy food to be had at the fair if you look!

ST loves him some rides, so we'll probably hit the fair one more time before it closes.

Burlap Restaurant Construction Update (Carmel Valley/Del Mar Highlands)

So I'm really not that hopeful about Burlap (Brian Malarkey's/James Brennan's soon-to-be eatery in the Ralph's Shopping Center in CV). Even though Searsucker is my absolute #1 favorite restaurant in SD right now, and Brian Malarkey can make awesome food, the idea of going out on date night to....the Del Mar Highlands Shopping Center really is not something to dream about. If I've got a babysitter, I'm anticipating that I'd just as soon head in the car to the Gaslamp and have a riproaring good-time than stay at Imitation-Searsucker-in-Suburbia! (And as appreciative an eater as Super-Toddler is, he doesn't need to (won't!) sit for a fancy meal unless it's on the beach at Poseidon - if we're going to be at that shopping center, he'll be better off at Red Robin or the Counter!).

However, I am now super-excited and intrigued about the decor. Had to go to Kinko's (er, FedEx) today....saw the latest stage of construction. They seem to have put in the front doors and the area above the doors today. They are absolutely the most gorgeous palate of woods. I don't normally get that excited about wood, but it was really spectacular - I thought, "if I had time, I'd love to hang out here and just stare at the work of art called that door." REALLY....

I'm hoping they don't paint over it - but I can't imagine they would use such a beautiful array of woods if they were planning to put something over it.

Now, I'm getting excited. Let's see what it looks like next! It may just be cool enough to keep us in Carmel Valley on date night!

(Oh - and this looks kind of fun - - I'll have to think about going.

Taverna Blu Review (Carmel Valley)

The makeover of the Del Mar Highlands shopping continues. Lots of new restaurants....and less parking! It's a real winning combination.

But after fighting for a spot, I gave Taverna Blu a try today. Not bad! I'm not sure I'd say it's worth driving a distance for, but it seems to be a winning formula. Tasty Greek/Med food, at good price points (at least for them): $3, 4, 6, 7 or 11. Of course, the diner ends up ordering a little of this and a little of that, so it adds up, but at least you get to try different flavors if you're going to pay $10-$12 for your lunch and $15-20 for dinner.

Tried/shared:
--lentil soup (good deal for $4, tasty)
--"threesome" (spicy feta dip, humus, "mama ganush" - like Spanish eggplant with tomatoes); for $6, the portions of the dips were not that big, but there were tons of carbs on the plate (pita, pita chips)
--falafel sandwich ($7): respectable enough; not going to vie for best falafel in town

Atmosphere: Very cute patio, big hip space in side (wine and beer).

Service: There were a lot of complaints on yelp (they've only been open a few weeks). But maybe in response to that, servers were super-nice and attentive.

They're not advertising yet, so it's Counter spillover and walk-by traffic for them. I think this is going to be very, very popular in the food-starved DMH area. And it definitely would be toddler-friendly (esp. outside) even if they're going for a more happy hour vibe inside.

Farm House Cafe Revisit: Ok but not great

Revisited Farm House Cafe with great anticipation...had such a spectacular meal last time I had instantly named it my 3rd favorite restaurant in SD.

Tonight: ok, not great. Probably wouldn't make the trip to go back.

Bread: still very good

App: Ordered the burrata salad. Someone on yelp said it was boring, someone else said it was amazing. Took a chance....it was tasty but not anything special.

Entree: DH thought his steak was just ok. I went for the veggie entree. Menu online showed an amazing-looking risotto with lots of Crow's Pass veggies. Instead, the veggie entree tonight was essentially corn three ways: corn cakes (corn + polenta + corn broth), with more corn on top. No other veggie on the plate. I like corn, but I'd rather not eat a plate full of starch. They were very good corn cakes, though, the highlight of the meal.

Dessert: Respectable flourless chocolate cake, with a tasty strawberrgy sorbet.

Wine: $13 glass of Terlato Cabernet Franc. I liked it, but it wasn't spectacular for $13.

In sum: enjoyed meal, but no need to rush back. And it has lost its post on my faves. New list!

#1: Searsucker still (after 3 revisits)
#2: Alchemy still (because Ricardo Heredia is and always will be a badass - hasn't let me down yet)
#3: Charisma: still loving it after 2 meals

The Counter Review (Carmel Valley)

ST's school schedule is screwy this week, so Mama took him to a special lunch out! (boy hasn't gone out to eat alone with me except for fast food since he was in an infant seat). Brought him some cars, some paper to draw on (they have pencils for filling out your order form), and we were good to go.

Verdict: Yummy! (though not super-yummy, let's not exaggerate)

Advanced buzz on Yelp: mixed about this place, lots of haters, so I didn't have high hopes. Also there's always a line there when we think about going, so we have ended up at Red Robin.

Well, this ain't Red Robin! Fun music, fresh air on the patio (though only one heater for the whole patio). Lots of choices: I got a fresh veggie-quinoa burger, and had a choice of tons of things to add on/sauces. I picked:

--carrot sticks
--organic spring mix
--grilled pineapple
--Tilamook cheddar
--on multigrain

+tzatziki sauce

Very tasty! I really liked the burger, and the way I customized it was yummy.

ST got a kids' veggie burger (two sliders with American cheese), also came with fries.

We also tried their sweet potato french fries. They're not the very best in town (sweet potato fries are also becoming cliche), but they were certainly tasty.

Service: Took a while to take our order, but once we flagged someone down we got our food within 10 min.

Fun, customizing the burger means I'd love to go back and pick some different sauces and toppings.

Fun, fast, tasty, Super-Toddler-friendly! That's my kind of Toddler's-and-Mom's Lunch Out!

Bawarchi!!! (Little India, Mira Mesa)

I was shocked to realize that, since I started this blog about 15 mos. ago, I have not been to Little India, formerly my most favorite place in San Diego! I think I was in the mode of wanting to try new places...and I probably had one tummy-ache too many from overeating at the yummy Cafe Madras buffet!

But it was a shocker to plan to try somewhere in Little India with NYUGirl, and to see that Ker, my fave of all favorites there, had closed in March 2010!! Boy used to go with me frequently when he was a baby and I was on maternity leave. Nan, rice, lentils, mangos, yogurt: ideal for a baby! But when he hit about one, his face turned red one day, as his newly developed taste buds decided that Indian food was "too ficy!!!" So I've been getting my Indian food craving on the run in Sorrento Valley, and just kind of forgot to head over to Little India.

But now I remember: OH BOY!! No disrespect to Sitar and Sher E Punjab: they're awesome. But there are dishes they just don't have there. I needed a South Indian fix!!!

Turns out, Ker has been replaced by Bawarchi. SUPER-YUM!!! the haters on Yelp (some love it, some hate on it) should safely be ignored, unless you're trying to recapture your mama's food in India.

Some of the highlights:

--a ridiculously tasty and light grated beetroot dish (not sure what was in it: coconut? peanuts?). Had 3 servings. Tasted really healthy, and honestly one of the best things I ever ate in my life.

--very respectable sambar

--some interesting little fritters (name unfamiliar to me, like gulab jamun but smaller and not sweet)

--eggplant masala: yum

I also liked their paneer tikka masala and other things. The only misfire for me: mango dal. It sounded so exciting when I saw it (love mangos! love dal!), but I'm not a fan. The mangos undercut what should be the intense earthiness of the dal and instead made it a soupy sweet thing. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good.

NYUGirl also ate the meat dishes, including a lamb one and a chicken one. I can't vouch for them, but she was very pleased.

I need excuses to go back!!

Oh - and I hit Surati Farsan Mart after, got some plain barfi and mango barfi to take home. ST loved both of them. Yum!!!

Suzie's Farm visit!! (Imperial Beach)

On Sat. June 11, Super Toddler and I piled into the car with another fabulous mom and her boy, and we headed down to Imperial Beach to take a tour of Suzie's Farm. Yes, that Suzie's Farm -the one featured on menus all over town, from Alchemy to Mistral. $10 donation pp includes as many veggies as you can pick in your reusable bag - oops, I'm the non-eco one who forgot her reusable bag, so let's make that cram into the backpack you had brought for snacks for ST.

The boys were super troopers, esp. considering that the bathroom is super far in the fields (Suzie's is huge!!).

Some of the loot we picked and took home:
--delicious carrots (ST is super strong and wrestled those babies out of the ground)

--a couple of clandestine radishes (we weren't supposed to pick them, but what did ST know)

--fresh dill, parsley, cilantro

--kale of various colors

--a beautiful, vast head of red-leaf lettuce which we are slowly making our way through

--two enormous summer squash (which ST's babysitter sauteed last night for me after bedtime - super yummy!!)

--one humongous ridged zucchini, which inspired me to cook tonight (!!), even if I wasn't sure my boys would eat the kind of food I like to make.

I made zucchini latkes + a zucchini-red pepper frittata. ST was pickier than normal, but at least he add tons of salad and applesauce. CH, who doesn't like "veg food," gamely ate some latkes (he hid the zucchini under mounds of applesauce). Luckily, CH's Mom came to dinner and so was a more appreciative audience for my gourmet veggie cuisine.

Haven't cooked the kale yet - will probably saute it tomorrow and see if ST likes it.

It was a super-fun activity - definitely worth hauling a toddler along! We left a little early (they had had it), but that was fine.

From now on, "Suzie's Farm" on menus will mean something to me - though I'll be thinking also of dirt, flies and manure smell rather than only something gourmet and glamorous (ah....food marketing!).

Katana (Carmel Valley)

Takeout from Katana is always easy.

The small green salad has a tasty dressing.

Got two of the reduced price rolls: ex-girlfriend and alaska. Ex-girlfriend is good because it's riceless. I'd probably skip alaska next time (salmon around a california roll) - it's ok, but much more boring.

Shimbashi Izakaya Re-Review (Del Mar): Meh....

Since Grandma is here we got a few dates in this week (she just wants alone time with Super Toddler - we would have stayed in!).

Revisit to Shimbashi Izakaya. Was very excited. But it was a disappointing return.

Food: Good but not as good as last time. Very expensive - and not a lot of food. It would be one thing if it was spectacular...but it was not.

Drink: Sake Mojito was very bland (like soda water + lime), gave me no buzz I could tell. (was there really alcohol in it?).

Service: Ok, but then they tried to screw around with our check. The normally mellow dining companion known as Cute Husband was, shall we say, not pleased.

An unimpressive showing after a meal that was good but not great = probably not returning. Too bad = it's a nice view and the salad is still fresh and quite tasty (but not missable anyway).

Not a food post: Asian American Rep's Flower Drum Song (@ the LJ Playhouse)

No gourmet meals tonight....but we did see a fantastic production of David Henry Hwang's Flower Drum Song adaptation at the LJ Playhouse. The AA Rep is a great company and does so much on a shoestring. Great acting and direction - the company is the little engine that could!

Bayu's Ethiopian review (Hillcrest): Naomi Wise is the greatest!

I'm so hip these days that many of the places Naomi Wise reviews in the San Diego Reader are either already on my radar....or I've already been. But last week she reviewed a place I'd never even heard of: Bayu's Ethiopian in Hillcrest. Lots of vegetarian options, buffet at lunch.....

That's all Foodie Mom needs to hear!

My own Mama is visiting, and she's always game for a veg adventure, so we hit Bayu's today. FABULOUS! I didn't really think I liked Ethiopian. Though I have long been an Indian food fanatic, injara always tasted too sour to me; when I tried Ethiopian food in college, I remember thinking it tasted kind of weird. But years have passed, Naomi's review sounded great, and off we went.

YUM!!!! Injara wasn't sour at all. Three kinds of different lentil stews (not super spicy), one with split peas, one with tomatos/carrots/potatoes. (They had one meat stew too but we can't vouch for it.) Overall, super-healthy, super-flavorful, super-nice decor.

Oh - and the restaurant is in the former Cafe Bleu space in Hillcrest (where that wine bar used to be). ABSOLUTELY WORTH A VISIT...and another and another, when I can find an excuse to be in the neighborhood (and a dining partner, since this ain't CH's kind of food).

Charisma Cucina Italiana revisit (Hillcrest): Mmmm.....

Second visit to Charisma. LOVED it! Tried not to get exactly the same thing but it was hard. Got the arugula salad with truffle oil. Mmm...truffle oil. Just as good as the salad I got last time.

Still love the lentil spread for the bread.

DH ordered the same entree as last time (veal parm) but was in a better mood so liked it better. :) He also got bruschetta, which was very flavorful tomatoes and basil on very good grilled bread.

I got the same pasta dish with sauteed eggplant and smoked mozz, but did it with whole wheat penne. Felt a little more virtuous.

Didn't like my "Tuscan blend" as much as the Nero d'Avola I got last time. However, the nice waiter brought me a taste of Primitivo, which I would order again in a heartbeat. Even better: we were seated before $6, so my Tuscan blend only cost $3. For $3, it was an outstanding Italian table wine!

So friendly there, so cute....so delicious! Charisma gets promoted to my #3 fave restaurant du moment.

Too hilarious

Just noted that I posted a review tonight for El Callejon a year to the day after our last visit there, when I had noted "we need to remember to come here." And ST and I ordered pretty much the same thing (though I had black bean soup instead of jamaica salad). ST enjoyed the train last year too, though I called it a whistle - he was less obsessed then than he is now, so I didn't realize it should properly be called "a whole lot of horn." (cf. the generous Youtube train obsessives who post videos for other train-lovers and identify which model of horn is on each train).

Surprisingly, CH is the one who mixed it up. He got something totally different tonight than on our visit last time this year. And he's usually the stick-to-it'er and I'm the culinary experimenter!

El Callejon (Encinitas): Another train restaurant

There's a sign in the model train museum in Balboa Park: "yes, it really is always about trains." In our case, dining out with Super Toddler can be that way too.

We went to Legoland this afternoon and were trying to decide where to eat on the way home. CH suggested El Callejon. Chilly night, but with the heatlamps we figured we would be ok. El Callejon is yummy.

And (who knew?) it is also a train restaurant. The front parking lot at Moonlight Plaza was filled, so we followed the signs to park at the Encinitas Coaster station around the back. This allowed us to cross the tracks at the signal crossing as we walked from our car to the restaurant. (super excitement from ST).

And as we ate, not one but two trains rolled by. We couldn't see them, but we had a prime listening spot for all that horn. ST did his happy Coaster passing dance.

The food: yummy as usual. Had a black bean soup (though they brought me bacon on the side, which was lame since it was on the vegetarian menu - but I just sent it back). Then some yummy tacos de pescado, which has the yummiest tomato/pepper/onion sauce on grilled mahi mahi. CH enjoyed his chicken mole and the salsa. ST was very content with his guac, quesadilla, and treats (complimentary ice cream with a yummy hot-out-of-the-oven-churro AND a lolli for a well-behaved boy).

Overall, fast service, good food. A great night out together!

(I should note that ST had a tantrum when we first arrived because they immediately brought us chips and salsa, and he wanted guac. Took a long time for the server to arrive and ST was at first not a happy camper and had no patience. But once we ordered and the guac came, his hunger tantrum ended and we had a lovely meal. He especially loved the singers who came over to serenade us, and he was very proud to hand them money when I slipped it to him).

O'Brothers (Gaslamp)

Looks like I never reviewed this place in Horton Plaza. Loved it! Thought it was the best of the new SD burger places. Loved my veggie burger and sweet potato fries, and an awesome salad (I think we were there 2 mos. ago and I still remember). But CH didn't like his burger very much. So this will unfortunately not enter our rotation. But it's worth a try for you! Super toddler-friendly; satisfying lunch after hitting the Santa Fe Depot for a train reward!

Three cheers for Poseidon (Del Mar)

We go to Poseidon a few times a year. The combo of the view/setting on the beach + the creative and well-executed food is very appealing, esp. (though not only with) out of town guests. Service isn't always great, though.

Three cheers for them last night. We took ST and his nanny out to dinner. Wonderful service and large selection of reasonably priced choices for him. They gave us a prime table on the patio. Excellent atmosphere for him to stay put (and bang on the concrete without disturbing anyone). One of the best kid-friendly fine-dining places in San Diego! (in fact I'm not sure I can think of a better place for dining out with a lively toddler boy).

Stone Brewery Restaurant (Escondido)

Not going to go on and on about the beer (foodie mom doesn't have much time to drink!). But here's a quick take on the restaurant.

Have delayed going here forever, despite talk of the beautiful gardens, because the menu has always struck me as very expensive for what it is, and it gets mixed reviews on yelp, despite all of the pretensions of the menu to being gourmet, farm-to-table etc. Here's what I found.

Setting: beautiful. Total surprise from the nondescript office park exterior.

Service: not very efficient. Ditto yelp. And my courses came all at once.

Prices: about $30 a person at lunch for salad, sandwich and a tiny beer.

Food: Tom Kai soup (a special) was not very good. Pale imitation of a Thai restaurant. My seared tempeh sandwich was pretty tasty. The salad that accompanied it was pretty respectable.

Beer: My levitation ale was good. Not as good as the smoked porter and IPA I had recently.

Gardens: Beautiful.

Would happily return for the free tour this summer (any takers?). And might take someone for a business lunch to enjoy the gardens. In general, it wouldn't be my first choice for a business lunch because of the prices and service. But glad I went!

Dolce Pane e Vino (Rancho Santa Fe)

Not cheap, and not the best best place ever. But had a very delicious (if pricey) date night tonight at Dolce Pane e Vino, in lovely Fairbanks Ranch.

Cool vibe, some communal tables.

Great wines.

Enjoyed my delicious (if $15) burrata, stone fruit, candied almonds, etc. salad (CH likes his too).

Bruschetta with tomatoes was fine.

My flatbread with burrata was delicious. CH kept stealing it.

His chicken cooked under a brick in the wood-fired oven took forever to arrive. Strangely, the offered me a free second glass of wine and nothing to CH (probably because I seemed impatient and not him!). He thought it was ok, a little bland.

No dessert - he was tired!

Overall, it was a very lovely option to know about, esp. if you don't have to get on a freeway to go there. Not the best price/value ratio ever, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and the atmosphere. Successful date night!

Eda-mami review (Del Mar)

Trains. Super Toddler loves trains. Coaster trains in particular.

So tonight I headed off with him and CH to one of the Carmel Valley Rd. restaurants where you have a clear shot of the trains going through the valley by Torrey Pines. Too cold for Roberto's - so we hit Edamami.

In brief....

Food: Good. Going before 7 pm you can order from happy hour menu. Loved esp. the Sake Fusion roll and the delicious healthy salad I got for ST.

Service: Harried, slightly slow, but friendly enough and not terrible.

And the Coasters? Well we saw 3 in an hour.

ST's Behavior? Overall it was good. But we did have a little fight over the pink umbrella that came with CH's chicken teriyaki. ST thought it was a good idea to poke it in his eye. Mom didn't. Arguing/tantrums/stuggles to a timeout spot in the corner ensued.

Luckily it's a place where our little moment didn't really bother anyone (people did look over, but it was a reasonable buzz level, so we weren't disrupting anyone).

ST shaped up later, still got a lolli at the end of the meal after serving his time in TO (I'm a sucker, I guess).

Oh - and riesling goes really well with Asian food. :) I never order rieslings with other food, and usually don't get alcohol when I go out for Asian food. But it seemed a good idea tonight....and yum....I do love a good riesling when it's not competing with my meal!

Nothing Bundt Cakes Review (Del Mar)

Got some cakes here today for a family birthday. Verdict: very, very sweet. Ate one sample of the chocolate turtle (bite-sized) and felt a massive sugar rush.

Lemon: ST loved it. For him it was perfect: very lemony and sweet.

Carrot: Split one with a family member. He loved it; I thought it was very moist but again very sugary.

We saved the marble one to try tomorrow.

In the area, I have to say I prefer Cupcake Love cupcakes.

Was worth a try..... (the whole concept is puzzling but the owner claims people thought they would be gone in 6 mos but business is booming....they seem to like it on yelp too. A bit too sweet for me, though!)

Stadium (Encinitas): Review #2

LOVE the Stadium in Encinitas. Went with CH and ST tonight after trying it a few months ago.

All the plusses:

--kids' play room

--monitors at your table to see your child in the playroom so you can relax (we didn't even know about this kind of table last time, so one of us had always been left alone at the table while the other watched him; this was way better)

--surprisingly great food for a sports bar/burger place. I enjoyed seared ahi sliders with sweet potato french fries; ST had standard m&c that also came with fresh carrot and celery sticks and tater tots; CH had a chicken teriyaki bowl he liked (he decided to give the Stadium another try tonight and order something different even though he had a tummyache last time - hopefully it was a one time thing and he'll be fine tonight).

--great selection of beer on tap (I hardly drank any but enjoyed some tastes of the Stadium Honey beer)

--super-friendly servers: all the young women and men who work there are very nice and family-friendly

--hip-ish atmosphere and comfy seating. I'm not even into the big screens b/c I don't need to watch the game, but it lends the place a buzzy atmosphere.

Looking forward to going again. Super toddler-friendly and mom- and dad-friendly place (it almost felt like a date while we were sitting on our own, chatting, while watching him on the monitor playing hide and seek with the camera :)).

Pizza Patrol: Ciro's (Downtown/Gaslamp) Review + Viva Pops

Pizza! Foodgirl's family likes pizza. And we do have quite a few respectable NY pizza places in SD (and by respectable I mean they'll rival our fave places in NY/NJ). Readers of this blog know that our favorite are Bongiorno's Miramar and Sicilian Thing.

We also are known to happily get a slice at Bongiorno's Solana Beach. Carmine's in Oceanside is worth returning to; Bronx in Hillcrest is fine but not worth driving to from chez us; and we'd eat at Basic Urban downtown if it were more kid-friendly and had slices. Blue Ribbon is also super-yummy though not NY style. And Regents Pizzeria is not really authentic but it is tasty.

And we did not like Luigi's the one time we tried it: the Ca.-style white pizza was yummy, but the basic cheese slice was a tomato sauce abomination.

Today we hit Ciro's downtown for the first time. Verdict: not super-authentic, but definitely pretty yummy. The tomato sauce was a little sweet for me, and the sicilian pizza was too spongy to have any credibility East of the Mississippi (though it was tasty in a roll-with-cheese kind of way). However, the crust on the thin-crust pizza was perfect, and I loved my white slice. Would happily return when we are downtown.

In fact, it made for a perfect day with Super-Toddler, who had filled up his reward chart from sleeping all night long several weeks in a row. We took Amtrak to downtown and met CH there (the times between return trains were not convenient today so we made it a one-way trip). CH drove us to Ciro's; then we went to the train museum; then we hit Viva Pops. (hehehe - any day is a great day for Viva Pops - but especially a hot day!!).

I tried, at long last, the famed Salted Caramel. I enjoyed it but it wasn't the best pop I've had there, and I wouldn't get it again. ST branched out, with the experience of the cooks confab making him realize it's fun to experiment with flavors instead of always getting the same thing. He got "Strawberry Lemonade" instead of just strawberry. Then we were still hot and still hungry. So I got a blood orange, which we had enjoyed in mini size at the CC party - but which I found too tart to eat in a whole portion. He got another Strawberry Lemonade. I'm still considering the Mango Chili and the Avocado Lime for next visit.

Good eatin' today with ST!

Just an aside

The blog title mentions the idea of "delicious solo lunch on the run". Ha! Doesn't that sound exotic? I have had a bunch of work dinners (and a few date nights) lately....but lunchtime is spent either at my desk or quickly in the kitchen before pickup on days I'm at home. I ate once at Shar E Punjab in the last few weeks. Otherwise, what's lunch out??? Foodgirl scarfs down something quickly these days!! Miho comes to my hood and I never get to go!!

Vincent's Escondido (Review): Meh....

In brief: business dinner at Vincent's in Escondido.

SD Mag 2010: one of the critics (David Nelson?) awarded Vincent Grumel best chef in San Diego

Does the restaurant deserve it based on my visit? Ummm...No (aka, WTF? given the creative talent in this town? Ummm...no again).

I've been there 2x before in last several years, remember it as pretty tasty.

Tonight...

Service: not really very impressive, took forever for someone to come over. They were also not veggie friendly: meals come included with soup....while there's a veggie entree on the menu, there's no veggie soup. They won't even give you a green salad instead ("no substitutions"). So they're charging you for something that you can't eat. Not friendly at all! Every top chef in this town would be happy to send out a veggie alternative, as both a challenge/opportunity for the chef and to please the customer. Not impressive!

Amuse: Sorry, what amuse? (at this price level, shouldn't they be giving you one?).

Food: tasty enough, "correcte." Not worth the prices at this moment in time, IMHO. Tasty - not wildly creative. Not Ricardo Heredia or Brian Malarkey creative/delish. And certainly not Olivier Bioteau tasty! (This place ain't got nothing on Farmhouse Cafe as far as la cuisine française).

Wine: they don't even give you a list of wines priced by the glass, so you have to ask what the wines are and no prices are given. Tacky!

Dessert: Best part of the meal. Enjoyed a Pithiviers - very tasty almond cake. Can't get this elsewhere in SD.

It's definitely the fanciest restaurant in these parts. But I had great meals in the last few weeks at Habibi's (fraction of the price and delicious) and Hacienda de Vega (great atmosphere, very flavorful and interesting, also much cheaper).

I'd go back at some point if someone else was paying. Tonight was absolutely not cravable, and the service was not too pleasing. (On the other hand, my companions, who go out less, were very happy with their food. As I said, it was tasty....but hardly at the level of other places in town at this price.).

Searsucker: Oh How I Love Thee....

So I loved Charisma, and Alchemy's Ricardo Heredia is still the biggest bad-ass in town......

However, I'd be lying if I didn't say that SEARSUCKER IS STILL MY FAVE RESTAURANT IN SAN DIEGO BY FAR....

Had a fantastic meal tonight with a visiting friend. That place is off the hook!!!

Some of tonight's treats (we shared a bunch)
--cheddar poppers (of course - yum)
--no shisito peppers (the famous dish - tasty, but wouldn't get again)
--watermelon salad (good, had it once before)
--smoked trout salad with grapefruit and avo (yum)

--mahi mahi with blue cheese and chipotle: my how yummy
--she got a steak with chimichurri bearnaise and loved it

-sides: fried brussel sprouts with walnuts; and cauliflower with lemon, orange and sage: OMG on both of them

Oh - I left out the cocktails:
--talked her into getting the Peter Rabbit, which she enjoyed
--tried the Lullaby: HOLY STRONG DRINK, but also holy delicious. St. Germain: YUMMMMMMM!

For the first time, I got dessert there, even though I had no room:
--their Red Velvet Cake is awesome, moist, with lots of cherry action

The bill piles up fast there, but it's totally worth it!
It was hopping ridiculously on a Thurs. night.

Searsucker = best combo of scene + fun + ridiculous food in SD!

COOKS CONFAB SCHOOL LUNCH: YUM!!!

So Museumgirl and I took our families to the Cooks Confab School Lunch program at Fibonacci's today. COULD WE HAVE HAD ANY MORE FUN???? Upon arrival, they told us lunch wouldn't start for 75 mins. (??????? with toddlers????). But SuperToddler and MiniMuseumgirl (MMG) had a great time looking at butterflies and bugs on the back patio. Andrew Spurgin (a prince of a guy in addition to a helluva chef) let us have some delectable rolls in the meantime. The kids enjoyed fresh squeezed orange juice and some virgin "strawberry milkshakes" from the Snake Oil cocktail guys. MG and me enjoyed some spiked ones. We amused ourselves well til 1:15.

Then....
OMG!!!!
FOODIE HEAVEN!
ALL THE TOP CHEFS IN ONE PLACE!!!

First, I got to tell Ricardo Heredia that he is the baddest of badasses, and that his food is kicking butt over lots of the more famous places. He said it made his day (I'd say that made my day, but actually eating lots of super-yummy food made my day more :)).

Then, I got to eat the following, served to me by the chefs themselves on the Fibonacci's cafeteria line:

--Ricardo Heredia (Alchemy's) Potato-Cauliflower Tostada, Yellow Cherry Tomato, House Queso Fresco, Pickled Broccoli Stem, Salsa Verde: super-delish, scarfed up the queso fresco and pickled broccoli stem

--Trey Foshee's (George's) Cream of Tomato Soup with Parmesan Cream & Bread Crumbs, and George's pastry chef's Strawberry Yogurt with Chocolate Dipping Sticks: soup was pretty good, ST LOVED the chocolate meringue dipping sticks, and the strawberry yogurt was yummy

--Olivier Bioteau's (Farmhouse) Wheat “Macaroni ‘n Cheese;” Carrot Turmeric Purée; Diced Vegetables; Gruyère Cheese: This was super-yummy.

--Jack Fischer's Cashew Nut Ice Cream Cups with Honeyed Quinoa: OMG, Jack Fischer is back. He went through some phases where I was not too into what he was doing (like candy stuff) but he is back on my list of people whose food I crave. This was so delicious I had 3 of them (they were little, but still).

--Cafe Chloe's Suzie's Farm Vegetable "Lasagna", Handmade Focaccia (CH and MG's husband also enjoyed the Jidori Chicken Roulade which came with it): Yum. I loved the sauce too. Too bad you can't make reservations there - we never end up going anymore.

--Paul McCabe's (Kitchen 1540) "Fish & Chips” Wild Striped Bass, Baked Vegetable Chips, Tartar Sauce: this was delectable, one of my favorite dishes. Took forever for the line to die down so I was stuffed by the time I got there, but I ate every morsel. LOVE his food (when it doesn't get me sick, that is! :)).

And surprise of surprises!! One of my favorite foods of the day was, I think, SALAD!!
Andrew Spurgin is a bigtime badass....I was going to skip the "boring" lettuce in favor of all the delicious composed plates from the worthies. But I took some greens from the "Salad Bar from Waters’ Organic Garden with “a Bunch of Stuff That’s Good For You;” Fava Bean Tops and Beans, Peas and Tendrils, Garden Herbs," and added also some of his and Melissa Mayer's Roasted Vegetables and House Made Pickles; Tofu “Caprese” with Suzie’s Farms’ Cherry Tomatoes, Shiso Sesame Soba with Ginger-Sesame: YUM, YUM, and SUPER-YUM!! I thought it was the freshest salad I ever had in my life - and sure enough, Spurgin had picked it that morning with several kids from Fibonacci's Garden. It was spectacular (the cilantro pepita dressing was not bad either).

CH's favorite dish was Jason Knibb (Nine-Ten)'s Beef with Broccoli. We never got to it in the line, but Museumgirl's family also loved Stingaree's chicken satay. (Jeff Jackson's Chicken Pot Pie, CH thought, was just ok).

I must also give a shout-out to Lisa Altman and VIVA POPS! Super-Toddler was spectacularly well-behaved, all for the promise of some Viva Pops. He ate a choco banana milk, a bite of my honey yogurt granola, and then 4 of 5 blood orange juice boxes (well, they were not full size, and he had had tofu, sesame soba, bread, and some salad, plus strawberry yogurt and tastes of other stuff, so he deserved it).

WHAT AN AWESOME IDEA!! Museumgirl says she should have a party like this sometime - have all the top chefs in town in her backyard. Hehehe....that is a pretty awesome fantasy! Kudos to the chefs for advancing the cause of healthy, sustainable, kid-friendly, delectable food!!

I spent the afternoon in a food coma but should be ready to resume eating tomorrow....

Charisma Cucina Italiana (Hillcrest): Now THAT's how I like to eat!

So I read reviews a lot and a place seems intriguing....sometimes I get there, sometimes I don't, sometimes it's disappointing....sometimes it's like Charisma!!!

Amen, Yelpers....I'm so glad I went here!!

OVERALL: Real Modern Italian, not Little Italy or Italian-American. Simple and perfect.....The kind of food I would happily eat for a last supper. I love California cuisine, and farm-to-table, and out-of-the box and all that....but this is simple, well-executed, and scrumptious. I could eat this any day and forget all about the celebrity chefs.

ATMOSPHERE: Tiny, but beautiful red colors, right on University Avenue.

WINES BY THE GLASS: Now you're talking! I was delighted to have an excellent selections of Italian wines by the glass for $5-8 ($2.50 - 4 at happy hour!). Had to pass on a $5 Sangiovese and a $6.50 Super Tuscan (!) for a $7 Nero d'Avola Sicilian. DELISH!

BREAD: Super-fresh and hot, from Bread and Cie. Comes with a lentil spread that was scrumptious.

WAITER: Very gracious and efficient young Italian. Who cares if I had to ask him to keep repeating each component of the specials because I understood 25% of what he was saying? He still had great recommendations.

SALAD/SOUP: I went with a nightly special, mixed greens with gorgonzola, carmelized walnuts, blueberries and a balsamic reduction. I was afraid the gorgonzola might be too heavy. It came shredded (how about that?) and the plate was beautiful. I scarfed up the whole salad. Cute Husband enjoyed the soup of the day, a chicken minestrone.

ENTREES: CH was less excited about his veal parm than mine ("this is too much food for me," he said). I loved the perfect rosemary potatoes on his plate, though, and the delicious Italian vegetables. Oh - and my pasta dish? I have never even heard of the noodle I got (and it's not on the online menu). It was a longer, straighter version of gemelli. But it came with diced sauteed eggplant, smoked mozzarella, tomato sauce and fresh basil. It was RIDICULOUSLY TASTY. Yes, I would happily eat this for my last meal.

DESSERT: I was pleasantly sated from my food. CH got a cannoli. I thought the shell was just ok, but enjoyed a taste of the filling.

PRICES: Insanely reasonable.

On yelp, they say the service can be slow - and the kitchen is postage stamp sized, so I can imagine it gets slow when the restaurant is full. We dined early so had very efficient service. WOULD HAPPILY RETURN FOR A SLICE OF ITALIAN FOOD HEAVEN! Some people say Bice is the best Italian food in San Diego - some say it's Bencotto. I vastly preferred this to Bice (simple and cheaper and tastier); after eating at Bencotto I got a horrible stomach ache. So this is an easy choice for me as the best Italian (modern or not!) in town.