As a farewell dinner for our family friend G, T suggested we check out Sea Rocket Bistro in North Park -- a cute area of SD that's known for its random collection of restaurants and art galleries. Since it was a Monday night, the area was pretty quiet, with the streets mainly lit by a few storefront displays and a few open restaurants. The restaurant was tucked away on a side street, but we quickly found the awning and ducked into the inviting warmth inside.
Considering that SD is known for its fresh seafood and laid-back atmosphre, Sea Rocket did a pretty nice job of representing the city with its very artsy decor. The restaurant was decorated with all sorts of fish done up in papier-mache. As soon as we entered, we noticed a huge swordfish on the wall to our right, which included some UPS/USPS packaging. And as we made our way down to the end of the ramp, and peeked into the adjacent room, we noticed several large schools of fish (including one of mini-fish) hung overhead above the bar. T had mentioned that this place was totally focused on sustainable, organic, and local products, so the decor was a perfect reflection of this commitment.
As soon as we walked up to the hostess, she noted that there was a private party in the adjacent room, but she could pull together two tables for us by the window. Personally, I'm a big fan of the window (provided that it's double-paned glass -- especially given that it was 40-50 degrees that night), so I thought her suggestion was well-suited for us. It did make me realize how small the place was, minus 50% of its seating. The separation of rooms seemed a bit awkward, but otherwise the space seemed nice and intimate, all the while giving us a great view into the kitchen. As we were waiting by the hostess table, I couldn't help but check out the kitchen staff, and they were quick to offer up friendly smiles and hellos -- always a plus in terms of creating good atmosphere. :)
We got seated fairly quickly, provided with menus, and offered water in the heaviest fish-shaped carafe one has ever had to lift. Barring its serious weight, the fish served as a great vessel and added to the fun decor. In perusing the chalkboard specials and our menus quickly, we realized we had some tough decisions ahead. Everything looked fresh and delicious, and we were hard-pressed to figure out what we wanted. One of the first things to catch our eye was the plentiful number of sea urchin dishes. Now, this is definitely a delicacy that one doesn't see often outside sushi restaurants, and according to J&T (and other connoisseurs), when it's offered up super fresh, it's absolutely amazing.
Let's just say sea urchin isn't my kind of thing, but J was definitely not going to pass it up. He picked that and the fresh ciabatta bread to start, and the fisherman's stew to follow, while G&T both went with the seafood paella. I went light with a whole grilled sardine to start and the open-faced mushroom medley sandwich to follow. What was great was that our little starters were part of a small tapas menu, where several items could be tacked on to our meals for just 2 dollars each. A great way to sample a number of delicious items.
The sea urchin came out first in all its spiny glory. As I looked on from the sidelines, the rest of the table partook in the experience of spooning out its yellow-orange flesh. From what I recall, everyone seemed to be reminded of the ocean, which hopefully meant that it tasted fresh. I was perfectly happy with my sardine, which was lightly covered in lemon oil and sea salt. I'm a big fan of fishy-tasting fish, so I thoroughly enjoyed my sardine on a skewer. The blend of acid and salt was delicious, and I couldn't help but continually re-dip the fish in the lemon oil and sea salt, hoping to pull off even more meat, despite having had my way with it the first time.
As for the rest of the dishes, J had the option of making his stew more spicy, but chose to keep down the fire. From what I've been able to tell, spicy in American restaurants is never truly spicy enough for him, so he probably would've been better off amp-ing up the level of heat. Nevertheless, he worked his way through the entire dish, using the ciabatta to sop up all of the flavorful tomato base. I believe the ladies enjoyed the paella -- I heard no complaints, plus paella is a T favorite. My mushrooms seemed slightly overdone -- I detected some unnecessary crunch -- but overall I loved the flavor combination with the goat cheese.
Even though I ordered a Mandarin Lime Hansen's Soda, I wouldn't necessarily order another, especially knowing that I can easily pick up a can for a lot less at Trader Joe's. The ladies, however, ordered glasses of white wine off the wine list, and were fairly pleased with their selections. The list is fairly extensive, and offers a wide range of whites and reds, and even champagnes, by the glass or the bottle.
All in all, the atmosphere was great, the food was delicious, and the prices were totally reasonable. A definite two (and potentially eight) thumbs up!
Sea Rocket Bistro
3382 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104
619.255.7049
http://searocketbistro.com/
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Fantastic Mr. Fox
After a sneak peek from Serious Eats a few months ago, a two thumbs up review from Miss Chau, and a confirmation of George Clooney's involvement, I decided I *had* to see Fantastic Mr. Fox (FMF) this weekend.
Generally-speaking, I've never been that into animation. Thankfully, I've let my guard down with movies like Ratatouille and Up -- and I've been totally impressed. I took another chance with FMF (especially since I haven't liked a Wes Anderson film yet) -- and I wasn't the least bit disappointed!
In terms of animation, this was definitely *not* a Disney/Pixar-type film. It wasn't glossy or refined, or polished to a sheen. However, there was something intensely rustic and endearing about the stop-motion animation -- the way the characters moved and reacted, even the way some characters stayed deadpan the whole time. The level of detail was also quite amazing -- the faces, the costumes, the bristling of hair and whiskers in the wind. If you decide this movie is for you, make sure to look for the zombie possum and the rabid dog. It's all in the eyes.
In comparison to Where the Wild Things Are, which was driven by the characters, FMF was very much driven by the plot, and in a way that could engage both children and adults. Considering that both movies are based on children's books, the plot in FMF moved much quicker and probably did a better job at keeping children's attention. For adults, the plot took enough interesting turns to make you constantly wonder what would happen next. Plus, the characters conveyed wonderfully relatable personalities. Of course, it certainly didn't hurt that George Clooney was the voice of the main character!
As a foodie (and yes, carnivore), my favorite scenes involved lots of hanging meats, as well as chickens being killed and cookies being inhaled cookie-monster-style. If you're at all squeamish about these things, deal with it, because FMF is definitely one to watch.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
www.fantasticmrfoxmovie.com/
Generally-speaking, I've never been that into animation. Thankfully, I've let my guard down with movies like Ratatouille and Up -- and I've been totally impressed. I took another chance with FMF (especially since I haven't liked a Wes Anderson film yet) -- and I wasn't the least bit disappointed!
In terms of animation, this was definitely *not* a Disney/Pixar-type film. It wasn't glossy or refined, or polished to a sheen. However, there was something intensely rustic and endearing about the stop-motion animation -- the way the characters moved and reacted, even the way some characters stayed deadpan the whole time. The level of detail was also quite amazing -- the faces, the costumes, the bristling of hair and whiskers in the wind. If you decide this movie is for you, make sure to look for the zombie possum and the rabid dog. It's all in the eyes.
In comparison to Where the Wild Things Are, which was driven by the characters, FMF was very much driven by the plot, and in a way that could engage both children and adults. Considering that both movies are based on children's books, the plot in FMF moved much quicker and probably did a better job at keeping children's attention. For adults, the plot took enough interesting turns to make you constantly wonder what would happen next. Plus, the characters conveyed wonderfully relatable personalities. Of course, it certainly didn't hurt that George Clooney was the voice of the main character!
As a foodie (and yes, carnivore), my favorite scenes involved lots of hanging meats, as well as chickens being killed and cookies being inhaled cookie-monster-style. If you're at all squeamish about these things, deal with it, because FMF is definitely one to watch.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
www.fantasticmrfoxmovie.com/
Rudy's Taco Shop
While I've certainly had Mexican in more upscale settings, I've always been much happier with my cheap Mexican. And after a blah visit to El Agave, I was ready for something cheap and yummy to make up for it!
Miss D and I were already headed to the Solana Beach Farmers Market, so we decided to check out Rudy's Taco Shop nearby. It was *exactly* what we needed -- a little joint in a little strip mall with an outdoor seating area and lots of happy, full people.
As soon as you walk in, you notice the grocery aisles to your left, filled with random Mexican treats, like spicy chicharones, sweet breads, and other delectable items. I resisted the temptation to wander around, especially since I was too starving for words, but it was definitely hard holding back. Thankfully, I'd been prepped by Yelp reviews to save myself for the real food. :)
From the extensive menu posted over the cashier's counter, I decided to try a few different items, just so I wouldn't miss out on anything this time around. With the prices so low (just one dollar sign!), I spent less than $15 for 4 street tacos, a ginormous bowl of menudo, and a 16 oz. cup (the smallest size) of agua fresca.
For the street tacos, I decided to try the carne asada, the carnitas, the pastor, and the tongue. I'm not positive which was which, but all of them were moist, delicious, and super flavorful, with two of them (possibly the carne asada and the pastor) a bit darker in color. The menudo, which is a specialty that's generally only made on weekends, could probably have used a bit more salt and a bit more time soaking in the liquid. The hot soup, though, was perfect for the nippy day. The agua fresca came out of a machine, and it was super duper sweet, so I decided to dilute it with half water. It wasn't finishable, but then again, it was only $1.50. ;)
Service-wise, the food came out super quickly, the staff were really nice, and the outdoor seating provided just the right ambiance. Customer-wise, there were Mexican families waiting in line, random dudes catching up over burritos, and teens finishing up with ice cream sandwiches. A nice little cross-section of society, just the way I like it.
Rudy's Taco Shop
524 Stevens Avenue
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858.755.0788
Miss D and I were already headed to the Solana Beach Farmers Market, so we decided to check out Rudy's Taco Shop nearby. It was *exactly* what we needed -- a little joint in a little strip mall with an outdoor seating area and lots of happy, full people.
As soon as you walk in, you notice the grocery aisles to your left, filled with random Mexican treats, like spicy chicharones, sweet breads, and other delectable items. I resisted the temptation to wander around, especially since I was too starving for words, but it was definitely hard holding back. Thankfully, I'd been prepped by Yelp reviews to save myself for the real food. :)
From the extensive menu posted over the cashier's counter, I decided to try a few different items, just so I wouldn't miss out on anything this time around. With the prices so low (just one dollar sign!), I spent less than $15 for 4 street tacos, a ginormous bowl of menudo, and a 16 oz. cup (the smallest size) of agua fresca.
For the street tacos, I decided to try the carne asada, the carnitas, the pastor, and the tongue. I'm not positive which was which, but all of them were moist, delicious, and super flavorful, with two of them (possibly the carne asada and the pastor) a bit darker in color. The menudo, which is a specialty that's generally only made on weekends, could probably have used a bit more salt and a bit more time soaking in the liquid. The hot soup, though, was perfect for the nippy day. The agua fresca came out of a machine, and it was super duper sweet, so I decided to dilute it with half water. It wasn't finishable, but then again, it was only $1.50. ;)
Service-wise, the food came out super quickly, the staff were really nice, and the outdoor seating provided just the right ambiance. Customer-wise, there were Mexican families waiting in line, random dudes catching up over burritos, and teens finishing up with ice cream sandwiches. A nice little cross-section of society, just the way I like it.
Rudy's Taco Shop
524 Stevens Avenue
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858.755.0788
The Fish Market
Let me first admit that I had this meal literally a MONTH ago. It was supposed to be a pre-birthday dinner of sorts, but I have a feeling that it was just a good excuse to use up a lovely gift certificate from our realtor. Either way, I'm not complaining!
Not knowing a thing about anything, I didn't even realize this place was a chain until I looked it up just now. And to be honest, if I hadn't found out, I wouldn't have guessed. Although it was a bit larger and a bit more boisterous, it totally reminded me of seafood restaurants you find right by the ocean on the east coast. Not too fussy, not too stuffy, totally family-friendly, without that fake Red Lobster vibe.
We walked in for an early dinner on a Saturday night, and thankfully didn't need to wait too long. While we waited, we got to check out the small fish market up front, which showed off some of the fresh catch of the day -- some of which probably ended up on our plates, and all of which got our stomachs rumbling.
Soon after we got seated, I noticed the table of four next to us, where one woman was celebrating her birthday. Aside from delivering four delicious-looking chocolate-covered strawberries, the staff also came together for a birthday serenade. We couldn't make out the words at all, so I thought the group could've used a few more rehearsals. I mean, who wants a less-than-enthusiastic birthday song?
We were all starving, so we ordered the ginger lime prawns and the oyster sampler to tide us over until the rest of the meal was ready. The prawns were perfectly cooked (no chewiness whatsoever), but they could've used slightly less char and significantly more sauce. We got a tiny piece of lime that we really couldn't squeeze, so we missed out on any real lime flavor. The oyster sampler came with six oysters, two of each of the following: Canadian Malaspina, Humboldt Bay Kumamoto, and Cape Cod Island Creek. I've since forgotten which was which, but the two I had were delicious. Super fresh and super easy going down. I didn't put more than a bit of lemon juice and cocktail sauce on each of mine, so that I could really enjoy the clean taste of the oyster juice. Heaven in a shell.
Even though the menu is MASSIVE (and totally requires a pre-dinner viewing), I went with my favorite -- trout. Just so everyone is clear, I LOVE TROUT. Trout in any variety, form, preparation is absolutely delicious. I suppose I'm not the biggest fan of smoked anything, but if it's trout, I'm sure I'd like it more than I would any other fish. This time, I went with the cashew-crusted, farm-raised, Idaho rainbow trout, with avocado black bean relish (a kind of salsa, I suppose), fishwife rice (a.k.a. rice pilaf), and roasted vegetables (bleh). The veggies were definitely steamed and not roasted, so I totally felt gypped when I saw the lovely color on Teresa's veggies (thank goodness for sharing). The rice was OK, but I didn't bother having much of it. The relish was pretty good, though it could've used more acid. Needless to say, my focus (without any help from the woefully prepared sides) was the trout. Unlike everything else on my plate, the fish was perfectly prepared, with nothing more than a light dusting of finely ground cashews. I can't tell you how much I hate lovely and delicate fish being covered up with heavy batter, breading, coconut, nuts, and God knows what else chefs think of using to mess it up. Thankfully, I was more than pleased with what was set before me.
From what I recall, Teresa was enamored with the thought of getting the spiny lobster, and was disappointed when we were told the kitchen had run out of it by early afternoon. This was definitely sad but somewhat expected, considering how rarely they've seen it on menus, so she went with the halibut instead. To be honest, halibut is one of my least favorite fish, and I kind of lump it together with cod and all those other mild and bland-tasting fish out there. That being said, hers was done nicely (not too firm) and it soaked up some good sauce from the plate. After some debate, Jerry went with the famous dungeness crab cioppino. The dish came to the table piping hot and bubbling away, accompanied by several big pieces of garlic bread. I'd thought about getting this dish, but I don't think I would've enjoyed all the hands-on work that it entailed. Jerry, however, tore into the dish, and *still* had leftovers to take home! With many thanks to a big bib (that we made him wear throughout the entire meal) and plenty of handi-wipes, he left unscathed.
All in all, this was a great down-home foodie experience. While the mediocre sides highlighted the main dishes, any improvement on those sides would be very much appreciated. Thankfully, the seafood was really high-quality, though the prices certainly reflected that fact. They're definitely higher than I'd like to pay, but I'm probably biased from eating at too many seafood shacks along the highway. I'd definitely be up for a second trip to try the oysters Rockefeller, the Dungeness crab cakes, and some of the other fresh fish -- though hopefully on someone else's dime again!
The Fish Market
640 Via De La Valle
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858.755.2277 (858.755.BASS)
www.thefishmarket.com
Not knowing a thing about anything, I didn't even realize this place was a chain until I looked it up just now. And to be honest, if I hadn't found out, I wouldn't have guessed. Although it was a bit larger and a bit more boisterous, it totally reminded me of seafood restaurants you find right by the ocean on the east coast. Not too fussy, not too stuffy, totally family-friendly, without that fake Red Lobster vibe.
We walked in for an early dinner on a Saturday night, and thankfully didn't need to wait too long. While we waited, we got to check out the small fish market up front, which showed off some of the fresh catch of the day -- some of which probably ended up on our plates, and all of which got our stomachs rumbling.
Soon after we got seated, I noticed the table of four next to us, where one woman was celebrating her birthday. Aside from delivering four delicious-looking chocolate-covered strawberries, the staff also came together for a birthday serenade. We couldn't make out the words at all, so I thought the group could've used a few more rehearsals. I mean, who wants a less-than-enthusiastic birthday song?
We were all starving, so we ordered the ginger lime prawns and the oyster sampler to tide us over until the rest of the meal was ready. The prawns were perfectly cooked (no chewiness whatsoever), but they could've used slightly less char and significantly more sauce. We got a tiny piece of lime that we really couldn't squeeze, so we missed out on any real lime flavor. The oyster sampler came with six oysters, two of each of the following: Canadian Malaspina, Humboldt Bay Kumamoto, and Cape Cod Island Creek. I've since forgotten which was which, but the two I had were delicious. Super fresh and super easy going down. I didn't put more than a bit of lemon juice and cocktail sauce on each of mine, so that I could really enjoy the clean taste of the oyster juice. Heaven in a shell.
Even though the menu is MASSIVE (and totally requires a pre-dinner viewing), I went with my favorite -- trout. Just so everyone is clear, I LOVE TROUT. Trout in any variety, form, preparation is absolutely delicious. I suppose I'm not the biggest fan of smoked anything, but if it's trout, I'm sure I'd like it more than I would any other fish. This time, I went with the cashew-crusted, farm-raised, Idaho rainbow trout, with avocado black bean relish (a kind of salsa, I suppose), fishwife rice (a.k.a. rice pilaf), and roasted vegetables (bleh). The veggies were definitely steamed and not roasted, so I totally felt gypped when I saw the lovely color on Teresa's veggies (thank goodness for sharing). The rice was OK, but I didn't bother having much of it. The relish was pretty good, though it could've used more acid. Needless to say, my focus (without any help from the woefully prepared sides) was the trout. Unlike everything else on my plate, the fish was perfectly prepared, with nothing more than a light dusting of finely ground cashews. I can't tell you how much I hate lovely and delicate fish being covered up with heavy batter, breading, coconut, nuts, and God knows what else chefs think of using to mess it up. Thankfully, I was more than pleased with what was set before me.
From what I recall, Teresa was enamored with the thought of getting the spiny lobster, and was disappointed when we were told the kitchen had run out of it by early afternoon. This was definitely sad but somewhat expected, considering how rarely they've seen it on menus, so she went with the halibut instead. To be honest, halibut is one of my least favorite fish, and I kind of lump it together with cod and all those other mild and bland-tasting fish out there. That being said, hers was done nicely (not too firm) and it soaked up some good sauce from the plate. After some debate, Jerry went with the famous dungeness crab cioppino. The dish came to the table piping hot and bubbling away, accompanied by several big pieces of garlic bread. I'd thought about getting this dish, but I don't think I would've enjoyed all the hands-on work that it entailed. Jerry, however, tore into the dish, and *still* had leftovers to take home! With many thanks to a big bib (that we made him wear throughout the entire meal) and plenty of handi-wipes, he left unscathed.
All in all, this was a great down-home foodie experience. While the mediocre sides highlighted the main dishes, any improvement on those sides would be very much appreciated. Thankfully, the seafood was really high-quality, though the prices certainly reflected that fact. They're definitely higher than I'd like to pay, but I'm probably biased from eating at too many seafood shacks along the highway. I'd definitely be up for a second trip to try the oysters Rockefeller, the Dungeness crab cakes, and some of the other fresh fish -- though hopefully on someone else's dime again!
The Fish Market
640 Via De La Valle
Solana Beach, CA 92075
858.755.2277 (858.755.BASS)
www.thefishmarket.com
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