Fun times at the GLASS DOOR in Little Italy (top of Portofino Hotel)! It was annoying that regular food was not available til 5 pm (no salads or entrees, only appetizers or desserts! - there was not much for a vegetarian who wanted a snack besides bread for $4). However, who can beat the view here: the airport, downtown, and the beautiful sunset? So glad we finally got here for Happy Hour - it's super reasonable (1/2 off = $5 for their signature cocktails or a little more for things not on their regular menu). Delicious blackberry mojitos too ($8/each). And the bread was very good for $4: nut/raisin, plus very good EVOO and shaved parm cheese.
Then onto PAPALECCO in Little Italy for Panini. The melanzane panini was ridiculously tasty. Don't forget to look at the menu. We thought at first the only choices were in the display case but there are a lot of sandwich and other options they make in the kitchen. YUM!!!
Fun outing, and very reasonable!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Trifecta! Cucina Urbana, La Villa, Grant Grill
One of my friends (does he have a nickname? maybe DDad?) took my advice last week for a bunch of business meetings. Clients went to:
--Cucina Urbana
--La Villa
--Grant Grill
He said it was a Trifecta: that he came off as a fantastic, in-the-know host.
Follow Foodgirl and you too can impress your friends and associates!
He tried a cocktail at Grant Grill I haven't had, the Last Cocktail, and also tried the pistachio berry tart. He said both were amazing. I need to go sometime soon and try them!
--Cucina Urbana
--La Villa
--Grant Grill
He said it was a Trifecta: that he came off as a fantastic, in-the-know host.
Follow Foodgirl and you too can impress your friends and associates!
He tried a cocktail at Grant Grill I haven't had, the Last Cocktail, and also tried the pistachio berry tart. He said both were amazing. I need to go sometime soon and try them!
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Rimel's Review (Carmel Valley/Del Mar Highlands)
Nice choice for dining with CH and SuperBoy.
Drink: Enjoyed my skinny coconut mojito.
Salad: Surprisingly good - nice salad mix, good sesame dressing.
Fish sandwich: very fresh and tasty (wahoo), good sweet potato fries
CH enjoyed his ribeye. SB enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich (nice sourdough bread).
Service: not exceptional, but fine.
Atmosphere: noisy (in fact, SB pronounced it "too loud" for a mellow kid like himself) - but it makes the place kid friendly - lots of kids among the couples out on dates
Some of the pricing is a little much ($8.95 for a side salad?), but otherwise it's a decent value for a family-friendly tasty place in the 92130. And Swirls is nearby for a post-dinner treat for a well-behaved B.
We enjoyed and will return. (not a must visit from other neighborhoods, necessarily)
Drink: Enjoyed my skinny coconut mojito.
Salad: Surprisingly good - nice salad mix, good sesame dressing.
Fish sandwich: very fresh and tasty (wahoo), good sweet potato fries
CH enjoyed his ribeye. SB enjoyed his grilled cheese sandwich (nice sourdough bread).
Service: not exceptional, but fine.
Atmosphere: noisy (in fact, SB pronounced it "too loud" for a mellow kid like himself) - but it makes the place kid friendly - lots of kids among the couples out on dates
Some of the pricing is a little much ($8.95 for a side salad?), but otherwise it's a decent value for a family-friendly tasty place in the 92130. And Swirls is nearby for a post-dinner treat for a well-behaved B.
We enjoyed and will return. (not a must visit from other neighborhoods, necessarily)
Monday, April 8, 2013
La Villa (Little Italy) Restaurant Review: Yum!
How is it possible I forgot to review this place?
Went a few weeks ago. Fantastic!
Cool vibe. We sat inside, but patio looks nice.
CUISINE: Farm to table, rustic Italian inspired, not the same old Italian as every place in Little Italy.
SERVICE: Very warm. Great waitress.
BREAD: Could have been a little warmer, but otherwise was very tasty.
COCKTAIL: Was deciding between two, she steered me very knowledgably. She described each and told me that choice #2 was her favorite (Chartreuse Swizzle), and that she didn't like #1 because it was too tart. That was so helpful - I love tart! So I ordered #1 - I wish I could remember what it was, is not on online menu. But it had gin and some other delicious things.
APPETIZER: CH enjoyed his farmer's market salad - very fresh. My baby beet and grapefruit salad was ridiculously tasty. I don't even like grapefruit, but it tasted perfect in this salad.
ENTREE: CH got a chicken dish he really enjoyed. I got a dish not on online menu - spring vegetable fettucine with burrata. YUM. So light and really delicious and flavorful.
DESSERT: We got 3 chocolate tasting, and salted caramel chocolate mousse. Would pass on the mousse next time - not the greatest example of it ever. But the 3 chocolate tasting was yum. The half-baked Valrhona chocolate cake was stupendous - we would gladly have gotten more of that little bite if we could.
Would happily visit again - a nice find in Little Italy. I'm embarrassed it wasn't on my radar before!
Went a few weeks ago. Fantastic!
Cool vibe. We sat inside, but patio looks nice.
CUISINE: Farm to table, rustic Italian inspired, not the same old Italian as every place in Little Italy.
SERVICE: Very warm. Great waitress.
BREAD: Could have been a little warmer, but otherwise was very tasty.
COCKTAIL: Was deciding between two, she steered me very knowledgably. She described each and told me that choice #2 was her favorite (Chartreuse Swizzle), and that she didn't like #1 because it was too tart. That was so helpful - I love tart! So I ordered #1 - I wish I could remember what it was, is not on online menu. But it had gin and some other delicious things.
APPETIZER: CH enjoyed his farmer's market salad - very fresh. My baby beet and grapefruit salad was ridiculously tasty. I don't even like grapefruit, but it tasted perfect in this salad.
ENTREE: CH got a chicken dish he really enjoyed. I got a dish not on online menu - spring vegetable fettucine with burrata. YUM. So light and really delicious and flavorful.
DESSERT: We got 3 chocolate tasting, and salted caramel chocolate mousse. Would pass on the mousse next time - not the greatest example of it ever. But the 3 chocolate tasting was yum. The half-baked Valrhona chocolate cake was stupendous - we would gladly have gotten more of that little bite if we could.
Would happily visit again - a nice find in Little Italy. I'm embarrassed it wasn't on my radar before!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
True Food Kitchen (Fashion Valley): Restaurant Review
Finally made it to TFK. Onsite chef is Nathan Coulon, though he wasn't there. Exec. chef of the chain is my old favorite Michael Stebner, opening chef at Nine-Ten in La Jolla and later of Region in Hillcrest.
Atmosphere: kind of busy and mallish, more than I expected. I thought it was supposed to be more hip. Still, it's busy and loud enough to be kid-friendly.
Drinks: SuperBoy experimented with a strawberry-rhubarb seasonal soda. I liked it, but he eventually decided it was too weird. He switched to "natural" root beer.
I got a "happiness" cocktail, with ginger, vanilla, St. Germain and lime. It was subtle. Not the most delicious cocktail ever, but tasty. A little bit tart. Would try something else next time.
Appetizers: Best part of the meal. We got edamame dumplings - super-YUM (PR Girl had said these were the best). We also got strawberry chopped salad. Delectable.
Entrees: CH liked his spinach lasagna.
I LOVED the veggies on my seabass plate, and I'm not even a big snap pea fan. Scarfed 'em up. But the "sea bass" itself was the sustainable kind, not Chilean, and it was kind of dry. I added lime and lemon, which made it better, but it wasn't on a level with the other things I ate.
SB really liked his chicken teriyaki, though he was more into the chicken than the veggies.
DESSERT: CH got a valrhona cake which had an unusual taste - maybe more cocoa was used than butter/cream, and some extra flavorings. SB liked his vanilla ice cream. I got the "chia seed pudding, with banana and coconut." Server raved about it. It kind of grew on me - it was like sweet oatmeal. I liked it but wouldn't get it again.
Won't rush back, but good option to know about with a toddler. Apparently wait can be long, but we went at 5 pm so sat right down.
Atmosphere: kind of busy and mallish, more than I expected. I thought it was supposed to be more hip. Still, it's busy and loud enough to be kid-friendly.
Drinks: SuperBoy experimented with a strawberry-rhubarb seasonal soda. I liked it, but he eventually decided it was too weird. He switched to "natural" root beer.
I got a "happiness" cocktail, with ginger, vanilla, St. Germain and lime. It was subtle. Not the most delicious cocktail ever, but tasty. A little bit tart. Would try something else next time.
Appetizers: Best part of the meal. We got edamame dumplings - super-YUM (PR Girl had said these were the best). We also got strawberry chopped salad. Delectable.
Entrees: CH liked his spinach lasagna.
I LOVED the veggies on my seabass plate, and I'm not even a big snap pea fan. Scarfed 'em up. But the "sea bass" itself was the sustainable kind, not Chilean, and it was kind of dry. I added lime and lemon, which made it better, but it wasn't on a level with the other things I ate.
SB really liked his chicken teriyaki, though he was more into the chicken than the veggies.
DESSERT: CH got a valrhona cake which had an unusual taste - maybe more cocoa was used than butter/cream, and some extra flavorings. SB liked his vanilla ice cream. I got the "chia seed pudding, with banana and coconut." Server raved about it. It kind of grew on me - it was like sweet oatmeal. I liked it but wouldn't get it again.
Won't rush back, but good option to know about with a toddler. Apparently wait can be long, but we went at 5 pm so sat right down.
Katana Takeout (Carmel Valley)
Ordered takeout tonight. Better than it has been in a while. The katana roll is one of the best rolls there. It's not drenched in sauce. Healthy, fresh and light.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Wa Dining Okan Review (Convoy): One of SD's Best Restaurants
Love me some Wa Dining Okan. It is NOT a hole in the wall, even though it might appear to be on first glance, as it's tiny and in a Convoy strip mall. It is a tiny, perfect, classy establishment.
Music: French cabaret
Food: Best miso soup I've had in San Diego. Wonderful broth. Delicious vegetables.
Got the salted grilled salmon again (enjoyed it so much last time). Delectable brown rice with some seaweed (I forget the name). The two veggie tapas of the day that came with it were a delectable broccoli with sesame seeds, and a "tofu lees" (I had to ask twice what that meant). It turns out it is the soy pulp left over after you take soy milk out of a soybean. YUM. There were also some perfect little pickles: 2 baby cuke slices, 2 tiny carrot slices, and then some beet-red (tomato?) pickles. Perfectly briny, clean, refreshing, crisp.
The atmosphere is also very quiet, as if the people crowded in realize that this is a temple of food and one should speak in hushed tones while enjoying it.
Many customers were Japanese.
This is such a perfect little restaurant. San Diego is so enriched by having places of this caliber. I can't say I've had a more delicious piece of fish (even though it was simple) or more intriguing veggies in quite a while.
My 3rd visit should come sooner than my 2nd visit took!!
Music: French cabaret
Food: Best miso soup I've had in San Diego. Wonderful broth. Delicious vegetables.
Got the salted grilled salmon again (enjoyed it so much last time). Delectable brown rice with some seaweed (I forget the name). The two veggie tapas of the day that came with it were a delectable broccoli with sesame seeds, and a "tofu lees" (I had to ask twice what that meant). It turns out it is the soy pulp left over after you take soy milk out of a soybean. YUM. There were also some perfect little pickles: 2 baby cuke slices, 2 tiny carrot slices, and then some beet-red (tomato?) pickles. Perfectly briny, clean, refreshing, crisp.
The atmosphere is also very quiet, as if the people crowded in realize that this is a temple of food and one should speak in hushed tones while enjoying it.
Many customers were Japanese.
This is such a perfect little restaurant. San Diego is so enriched by having places of this caliber. I can't say I've had a more delicious piece of fish (even though it was simple) or more intriguing veggies in quite a while.
My 3rd visit should come sooner than my 2nd visit took!!
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Accomplice (La Jolla Playhouse Without Walls): Little Italy: Theater Review
This play is absolutely TOO MUCH FUN. It is a must-see (http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/accomplice-san-diego). It is nearly sold out for the original run so is being extended a month. It was so refreshing to be "part of the play" as one moved around Little Italy looking for clues and encountering actors who were "in on the job" we were doing. Sheer fun, totally different from other plays. And you get to see a fantastic side of Little Italy that you don't often see. I can't say all the places I want to go to now because I don't want to give too much away! Must go - you won't regret it!!
Napizza (Little Italy)
PRGirl told me about this place several months ago. That girl is spot-on - I should not take so long to listen to her recommendations.
Delicious little squares (not exactly East Coast Sicilian, but square) of pizza of all varieties. I got one with truffle oil and mushrooms that was a little slice of heaven. Got another called the parmagiana that had eggplant, pesto, etc. Really delectable. Didn't get to try their salads or paninis.
This place is legit. Delicious and reasonably priced for local, organic, fast-ish takeout!
Delicious little squares (not exactly East Coast Sicilian, but square) of pizza of all varieties. I got one with truffle oil and mushrooms that was a little slice of heaven. Got another called the parmagiana that had eggplant, pesto, etc. Really delectable. Didn't get to try their salads or paninis.
This place is legit. Delicious and reasonably priced for local, organic, fast-ish takeout!
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