Del Mar Rendezvous and other quick takes

Have been sick and ST is keeping me busy, so just a few quick takes.

Del Mar Rendezvous: yummy! large vegetarian/vegan menu! Same family as Dumpling Inn and lots of the same dishes! Hooked on vegetarian konnayaku noodle soup - super-delish for Foodie Mom with a cold! We have done take out twice in the last week. Dumplings, black bean fish (which ST loves), mmm....We went once a few years ago and weren't impressed but we'll be back.

Tender Greens today: super-good. It can be inconsistent sometimes. But today the albacore/tomato-based fisherman's soup was awesome, the albacore was perfectly seared, the grilled veggies were awesome (ever seen a global carrot?) and of course the mashed potatos were awesome as ever.

Awesome seems to be my word of the day....

Dumpling Inn (Convoy area)

Oh Dumpling, Dumpling....It's true that for the local Chinese community, you are known as Fat Joe's House of Dumpling or something. But since I'm a native English speaker (and therefore too politically correct, as my Chinese colleague says, to call someone fat), to me it's just the deliriously yummy Dumpling Inn. Much too crowded to eat at with a toddler - in fact, I haven't eaten there in person since he was born! But amen for takeout. Tonight we're getting some of our faves: spinach-tofu-egg flower soup, black bean sea bass, beef with scallions, chinese greens and cucumber salad. The dumplings are yummy too; any of their fresh noodles; the kung pao etc etc. Some yelpers say the waitresses are not friendly but they must not be regulars. To eat the best Chinese food in San Diego (there, I said it - I may not be Chinese, but I prefer it to Jasmine, Emerald, and even Ba Ren and Dede's), I'd put up with a lot worse - but the ladies who work there just happen to be very efficient and professional beneath their harried exteriors. In fact they give great service (at least to us). Long live takeout at Dumpling Inn - a Sunday night favorite. Not only is the food extremely delicious, but the drive there and back gives us 20 min. not to have to chase the toddler! :) (really the food is the important part, though!)