Cooks Confab...for kids too: OMG!!

http://www.cooksconfab.com/Cooks_Confab/Coming_Up%21.html

Need I say more? Too exciting! Hopefully ST will be a good boy and we'll be able to taste lots and lots of things.

(Of course, for the promise of a Viva Pop, I think he'll be very well-behaved).

Market Restaurant revisit (Del Mar)

Carl Schroeder used to be my favorite chef in San Diego. LOVED him at Arterra, LOVED him at Market.

Only one problem: CH can't stand his food. I don't know what it is, but there is something Schroeder uses in his cooking that just does not sit well with my sweetie. He always thinks it's ok at first, and then gets this horrible aftertaste. (Happened tonight again.) So despite having considered it my favorite restaurant, I haven't been there in at least 2 years, and even then CH hadn't been my dining partner there since it opened.

Well, that's ok, because I went tonight (CH agreed to go for my birthday) - and though it's good, it's not in the same category as my current top 3:

--Searsucker

--Alchemy

--Farmhouse Cafe

Wine by the glass: A delectable alborino, $9.50 is a decent price

Amuse bouche: They brought us something without shellfish: a strawberry with champagne sorbet. Seemed too sweet for an amuse, but the champagne sorbet was to-die for. Thought about it as a palate cleanser and loved it.

Appetizer: CH was excited to try the Thai chicken soup, but then they said it had some fish broth (he's allergic). He wasn't excited by any of the other options, but settled for the off-menu Market fresh Chino vegetable salad. It was fine - I enjoyed his cauliflower and beets.

I got the hamachi-ahi minus the uni shooter. Delectable. Was scooping up the spicy remnants of the red peppers that had been on top of the hamachi.

Entree: CH not that into his jidori chicken - and then that aftertaste he seems to get from Schroder's flavor profiles hit him (it's very individual obviously - I love his food but CH gets it every time).

--my Vegetarian tasting: This used to be Carl Schroeder's forte: always some incredibly delectable and creative vegetarian dish that was cravable and better than anything in SD. Tonight: it was ok. I liked the little tortellini and the mushrooms. The goat cheese tart was meh and I didn't eat very much. Ricardo Heredia is killing the vegetarian category right now in San Diego: not really special here.

Bonus birthday dessert: Raspberry sorbet with olive oil cake. Neither component interesting at all.

We ordered one regular dessert to share: Smore. This was actually the standout of the whole meal. I wish we had gotten two. Salty, sweet, every texture. Loved it.

Verdict: Still like Market, would happily go with someone else, but it ain't in my top 3, and I'm not missing it if I don't go for a while. Carl Schroeder still gets the great press in SD, but at this point other people are doing even better, IMHO. (and see my review on his Bankers Hill Bar and Grill from the summer, which was not a very exciting meal at all!)

Quick North County review, II: Hacienda de Vega (Escondido): YUM!

As bad as my Carmela's experience was....Hacienda de Vega was good.

Lovely setting, waterfall, very impressive for out of town guests.

Friendly service.

DELICIOUS. Had a salad de casa with a delicious cilantro dressing. Very fresh, unusual and yummy.

Main course: delicious grilled fish a la plancha with a roasted chipotle sauce. Delectable spinach with some yummy herbs in it and then fabulous black beans on the side.

They also have a whole veggie selection.

My dining companions loved their food too, though I tasted the mango salad and didn't like it as much as mine (score) and one person who got the shrimp wasn't as crazy about it as my fish.

But a fabulous and reasonable North County option. Yum!

Quick North County review: Carmela's (San Marcos): BLECH

Had some business dinners in North County recently.

Carmela's in San Marcos: Blech. How this place is still around is a little shocking. Very old school, but not very good.

The only dressing in the whole place has chicken stock. So I was brought some iceberg lettuce with my own bottles of vinegar and olive oil to mix a dressing. Too bad I don't have a measuring spoon to get the proportions right. Blech.

Service: completely unaccomodating and cold.

Eggplant parm: gave me a massive stomach ache after.

Totally overpriced for this area too. Absolutely a place to skip

Giuseppe's, SDMA Sculpture Garden (take II)

Took Super Toddler on an outing today to Balboa Park, sans Cute Husband (who needed time to do our taxes!). He really was a super-toddler: he is getting very grown up and doesn't whine or complain that he needs me to carry him, or take off and run. So we can go on big outings together that involve going far from the car.

Today we hit the Science Center in Balboa Park and then did a long stroll in the park. He said he could go all the way to Giuseppe's, and we had a fabulous lunch. Had been there once with my Mom in its post-Waters incarnation. I must say, today was even yummier. And it's very toddler-friendly. The secret: don't do "the full service bistro" side. Order at the counter, and then your child can run around, look at the sculptures, chase ducks, race across the bridge, etc., until the food comes. Very easy.

Today's delectables:
--a gourmet cheese pizza for ST: at first he was intimidated by the whole tomatoes and basil threads, but he got into it eventually. Mom tasted too: pretty good.

--DELECTABLE portabello mushroom panini for me on grilled whole grain, with tapenade and fresh mozz. YUM. They have the best bread - the sandwich altogether was heavenly. Got it with salad instead of french fries because I remembered how great their salad was last time. ST loved it too - very fresh spring mix + delectable balsamic vinaigrette.

--outrageously rich and tasty flourless chocolate cake to share. So rich. Hint of liqueur. One might think it would be too rich/fancy for a boy, but he loved it too, plus the drippings of chocolate syrup they swirled for him on the side.

Lots of babies to ooh over together, plus lots of grandmas to ooh over us (including someone I turned out to know).

Can't wait to go on another Mama-Boy outing to Balboa Park and hit Giuseppi's again!

Review: Mustangs and Burros, Hotel Estancia (La Jolla)

In brief, it was not good....

There's some yelper hate for this place, but it was convenient pre-Playhouse and the menu looked good, so I figured it was worth a try.

PLUSSES: Resort-ish atmosphere ("ooh - it's like date night on vacation!" I squealed). Cool lounge-y atmosphere outside on the patio with firepits and heaters. Salad and soup were good

But then....

MINUSES: Service super-slow; they don't bring you bread or chips unless you pay $8 for a basket with salsa and guac, so we sat there forever waiting for entrees. When mine came: fish + gruel. (Of course I mean "mahi mahi veracruzana, with sweet corn polenta, coriander, etc."....but honestly, it was fish + a gruely sludge).

Not gonna go back. Fine for tourists and for large groups that are happily drinking their $12 cocktails and laughing it up. Disappointing for a night out.

Still in search of great places in the Triangle area!