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).