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/
Monday, December 7, 2009
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
Monday, November 9, 2009
El Agave
Perhaps I was expecting something a little more low-key and relaxing, but El Agave was definitely WAY out of my ambiance and price range for a fun Mexican catch-up dinner. And while my friend (who was a sweetheart to pay) was gracious enough to say that it was definitely food we couldn't have gotten at one of the boisterous places we passed by in Old Town on our post-meal walk, I kept thinking it would've been nicer to go to any one of those places where there were actually, well, Mexicans!
I mean, that was one of the things that was most obvious about this place. Granted, we were there *really* early (like 5:30PM early) because we were too hungry to wait for our 6:30PM reservation, and the place was pretty empty, but that shouldn't have made a difference. If the place is known for good Mexican food, I would've expected *some* Mexicans in the house. That being said, this place is apparently also known for more eclectic dishes, which could've explained the lack of, shall we say, ethnic presence. Moreover, the entire place was covered in tequila bottles. And while we *were* in a tequileria, the glass was a bit overwhelming, and the lighting just made the whole place dark and depressing. Thank goodness we were seated by the windows (even with its blah view of the parking lot), because otherwise I would've felt I was in a tomb!
Although my foodie brother and sister-in-law had recommended this place (and warned me that it was on the pricier end), I should've done a bit more of my usual research. I should've been clued in by the fact that there were no prices on the menus online, though I was unfortunately sidelined by the lovely list of moles that were available. I should've checked the reviews, which clearly indicate the combination of high-quality food with significantly above-average prices. And I should've known that any place that you can find on OpenTable means inevitably higher prices. Regardless of who paid, this didn't please me at all, especially since I knew that we could get absolutely amazing Mexican food for substantially less than what we paid. BUMMER to say the least.
Setting all that aside to focus on the dishes themselves, I must admit that the menu is fairly extensive. Considering that I've been craving mole recently (for some odd reason unbeknownst to me), I really wanted something with the traditional Oaxacan mole negro. After perusing the menu, I was conflicted between the pheasant in a different sauce, or the rabbit in the mole negro. Even though my friend pushed for the pheasant (given that it's rarely seen on most menus), I ultimately decided on the rabbit, which the waiter (who was originally from Oaxaca) also picked from my two choices. (SIDEBAR: My brother and I had seen a rabbit cross our path the other night, so I took it as a sign that I was meant to eat this rabbit since we let the other one go!) My friend went with a few smaller dishes instead, and picked the quesadilla appetizer, the sopa azteca, and the nopalli nopal salad.
The meal started off pretty well, with a bowl of various breads and rolls. We were a bit famished, so we may have stuffed ourselves with a few more than we otherwise would've, especially *moi* since I'm really not a big bread person in general. That being said, they were all quite good, particularly the crescent-shaped roll that was stuffed with cheese and a bit of chile. My friend was personally fond of the big wheat crisp (the one I personally thought tasted like cardboard), which was good at picking up the yummy sauces that came with the bread. The staff was nice enough to replenish the bowl, so we had some to throw in with our leftovers at the end of the night.
When the quesadillas came, we were a bit confused, especially since they didn't look like quesadillas at all! In fact, they looked like mini empanadas, which was quite disappointing, since they were pretty small and didn't look filling at all. So while these wannabe quesadillas tasted OK, they were fairly insubstantial. We even got several different ones to try (basic cheese, mushroom, shredded chicken), though none of them really moved me in any way.
Next up was my friend's soup, which I had a bit of, and found DELICIOUS. It's something that she orders at every Mexican meal, so I'm glad she was pleased with it! She ate around the chicharonnes, which I actually thought were quite fabulous, despite not having their usual crispy texture. By the time I had them (which was after she'd finished most of the soup), they were nice and chewy and flavorful from having soaked up all the yummy liquid. Mmmm....
After we'd stuffed ourselves with bread and "quesadillas" and soup, we were faced with her salad AND my rabbit. Needless to say, we didn't make it very far on each. The cactus was nicely diced and piled high up on the plate -- a tower of flavor I have to say. On the other hand, my rabbit, which was supposedly braised, was super dry. The rice and mushrooms were OK, but the rice tasted kind of soggy and the mushrooms came with some other weird chewy vegetable that I couldn't figure out for the life of me. The saving grace of the dish was the mole sauce, which had a deep, rich, and complex flavor -- the best qualities of a mole sauce. I could totally taste the chocolate, which was perfectly balanced between savory and sweet. If I could've just gotten the sauce, I think I would've enjoyed the dish more.
At any rate, we barely made it through the meal because were so full, so we didn't even bother to get dessert. To be honest, it would've just been more money spent on mediocre food. While there were definitely highlights, I still think we would've been better off elsewhere. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
El Agave Tequileria
2304 San Diego Avenue
Old Town, San Diego, CA 92110
619.220.0692
http://www.elagave.com/
I mean, that was one of the things that was most obvious about this place. Granted, we were there *really* early (like 5:30PM early) because we were too hungry to wait for our 6:30PM reservation, and the place was pretty empty, but that shouldn't have made a difference. If the place is known for good Mexican food, I would've expected *some* Mexicans in the house. That being said, this place is apparently also known for more eclectic dishes, which could've explained the lack of, shall we say, ethnic presence. Moreover, the entire place was covered in tequila bottles. And while we *were* in a tequileria, the glass was a bit overwhelming, and the lighting just made the whole place dark and depressing. Thank goodness we were seated by the windows (even with its blah view of the parking lot), because otherwise I would've felt I was in a tomb!
Although my foodie brother and sister-in-law had recommended this place (and warned me that it was on the pricier end), I should've done a bit more of my usual research. I should've been clued in by the fact that there were no prices on the menus online, though I was unfortunately sidelined by the lovely list of moles that were available. I should've checked the reviews, which clearly indicate the combination of high-quality food with significantly above-average prices. And I should've known that any place that you can find on OpenTable means inevitably higher prices. Regardless of who paid, this didn't please me at all, especially since I knew that we could get absolutely amazing Mexican food for substantially less than what we paid. BUMMER to say the least.
Setting all that aside to focus on the dishes themselves, I must admit that the menu is fairly extensive. Considering that I've been craving mole recently (for some odd reason unbeknownst to me), I really wanted something with the traditional Oaxacan mole negro. After perusing the menu, I was conflicted between the pheasant in a different sauce, or the rabbit in the mole negro. Even though my friend pushed for the pheasant (given that it's rarely seen on most menus), I ultimately decided on the rabbit, which the waiter (who was originally from Oaxaca) also picked from my two choices. (SIDEBAR: My brother and I had seen a rabbit cross our path the other night, so I took it as a sign that I was meant to eat this rabbit since we let the other one go!) My friend went with a few smaller dishes instead, and picked the quesadilla appetizer, the sopa azteca, and the nopalli nopal salad.
The meal started off pretty well, with a bowl of various breads and rolls. We were a bit famished, so we may have stuffed ourselves with a few more than we otherwise would've, especially *moi* since I'm really not a big bread person in general. That being said, they were all quite good, particularly the crescent-shaped roll that was stuffed with cheese and a bit of chile. My friend was personally fond of the big wheat crisp (the one I personally thought tasted like cardboard), which was good at picking up the yummy sauces that came with the bread. The staff was nice enough to replenish the bowl, so we had some to throw in with our leftovers at the end of the night.
When the quesadillas came, we were a bit confused, especially since they didn't look like quesadillas at all! In fact, they looked like mini empanadas, which was quite disappointing, since they were pretty small and didn't look filling at all. So while these wannabe quesadillas tasted OK, they were fairly insubstantial. We even got several different ones to try (basic cheese, mushroom, shredded chicken), though none of them really moved me in any way.
Next up was my friend's soup, which I had a bit of, and found DELICIOUS. It's something that she orders at every Mexican meal, so I'm glad she was pleased with it! She ate around the chicharonnes, which I actually thought were quite fabulous, despite not having their usual crispy texture. By the time I had them (which was after she'd finished most of the soup), they were nice and chewy and flavorful from having soaked up all the yummy liquid. Mmmm....
After we'd stuffed ourselves with bread and "quesadillas" and soup, we were faced with her salad AND my rabbit. Needless to say, we didn't make it very far on each. The cactus was nicely diced and piled high up on the plate -- a tower of flavor I have to say. On the other hand, my rabbit, which was supposedly braised, was super dry. The rice and mushrooms were OK, but the rice tasted kind of soggy and the mushrooms came with some other weird chewy vegetable that I couldn't figure out for the life of me. The saving grace of the dish was the mole sauce, which had a deep, rich, and complex flavor -- the best qualities of a mole sauce. I could totally taste the chocolate, which was perfectly balanced between savory and sweet. If I could've just gotten the sauce, I think I would've enjoyed the dish more.
At any rate, we barely made it through the meal because were so full, so we didn't even bother to get dessert. To be honest, it would've just been more money spent on mediocre food. While there were definitely highlights, I still think we would've been better off elsewhere. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
El Agave Tequileria
2304 San Diego Avenue
Old Town, San Diego, CA 92110
619.220.0692
http://www.elagave.com/
Monday, October 26, 2009
piatti ristorante
as a well-deserved respite from my days and nights of dissertation writing, i got to see the lovely miss lina AND the lovely miss alison this weekend in SD. miss lina was down for a conference, and miss alison trekked down for a little respite herself, so it was wonderful to have some catch-up time w/the ladies.
although we were definitely headed to ED for sweets, we weren't quite sure what was going on for lunch. not until alison's colleague suggested piatti over in la jolla. now i must admit that, when lina told me alison wanted italian, i was a bit crestfallen, especially since italian certainly isn't my cuisine of choice. however, i thought i'd give the menu a chance, considering that i never choose italian myself, and i was absolutely delighted when i saw sweetbreads on the menu. (and FYI that i'm a BIG offal eater.)
sweetbreads, when done well, pretty much do it for me. (i had them done NOT so well at comme ca in LA, and i've vowed not to go back -- well, at least for a very long time.) piatti had sweetbreads both as an appetizer dish, and as a brunch dish w/eggs. and as soon as i saw that, i knew that's what i was getting.
when we arrived, we were shown through the main dining room to the back patio. although i don't like my restaurants empty, i also don't like them packed, especially when i'm planning catch-up time and i need to hear what my companions are saying. thankfully, the place was fairly empty when we showed up around 11, which pleased me immensely. it was also nice and sunny, and just on the warm side, so it was the perfect day to sit outside. the sun was in my eyes from the start, so we shuffled over to the adjacent table with our plates. i personally don't have any qualms about doing this, especially when a place isn't crowded. and even though our server seemed surprised (and ready w/an umbrella), i'm glad the busboy made it a point to say that it wasn't a big deal. as a patron, if i wanna move, i wanna move. please don't try to stop me. it's impolite.
honestly, i must admit that the waiter was a little too old-school italian for me. he spoke a little too close to my face, and he looked a little too intense. perhaps that was his natural expression, but it weirded me out just the slightest bit. another thing that weirded me out was the fact that the big fat dude at the adjacent table literally kept staring at us. it was so bizarre. i mean, yes, we're stunning, but seriously, fans can wait outside. it was only slightly disturbing, and thankfully, i was probably the only one who noticed. two other random observations were that we seemed to be: 1) 10-15 years younger than anyone else there (at least the people paying) and 2) the only people of color. now, as someone who studies diversity, i simply notice these things. and it certainly isn't a big deal (i mean, the same thing happened at tavern in brentwood, and i absolutely LOVE tavern.). it probably just reflects the demographics of la jolla. i mean, who else would wake up for brunch at 11 on a sunday? ;) well, us, obviously.
and i'm certainly glad we did b/c the food was totally delicious and satisfying. lina went w/the french toast, which looked (and apparently tasted) quite decadent. the bread looked like huge crostini, and she made it through 2.5 slices before admitting defeat. alison chose the breakfast panini made w/pizza dough. the thing looked quite monstrous (size-wise), but she polished off a fair bit of it before we mentioned that we still had ED left on the day's food agenda. otherwise, i think it was scrumptious enough that she would've considered finishing it.
i personally LOVED my sweetbreads on egg whites (my preferred substitution for eggs -- did you know one egg is 70% of your daily cholesterol?!?). just so folks know, sweetbreads, when served in isolation, are generally prepared w/a nice sear on the outside and a melting quality on the inside. w/this particular dish, the sweetbreads came sauteed w/mushrooms and placed lightly over egg whites. first of all, both the sweetbreads and the mushrooms had just the right amount of chew. you certainly don't want either of them mushy or rubbery, and both were done perfectly in this case. secondly, the sauce was rich in flavor but not in texture. it totally brought the sweetbreads and the mushrooms together without weighing down the dish. minus the egg whites, this dish would've been perfect -- which is probably why they have it prepared as an appetizer that way. plus the egg whites, it wasn't bad. they just made the dish more breakfast-ey. in fact, they actually did a good job of soaking up the sauce and filling me up, so that i couldn't inhale the whole dish within the first five minutes of brunch. the sauce was actually so good that i allowed myself to have bread, just so i could use it to soak up the remaining traces of sauce on the plate.
in addition to my meal, i ordered a non-alcoholic mint julep, which consisted of ginger ale, lime juice, and a bit of mint. it was quite good, and i'm always appreciative of a few non-alcoholic options on drinks menus. as a non-drinker, i always feel left out, so i'm totally happy when my needs are considered.
the waiter came by at the end of the meal to tell us about a fundraising effort they were taking part of to raise money for breast cancer research. for the month of october, they were asking each patron to donate $5, and with each donation, each patron would receive a free cappuccino or coffee. considering that each drink was about $2.50, it was like each patron was donating $2.50 and the restaurant was donating another $2.50. it was quite a nice offer, and the ladies too advantage of the opportunity to get some additional sugar and caffeine. i, on the other hand, was saving up my pennies (and tummy space) for ED. i felt a little bad, but not enough to throw in another $5 from my dwindling coffers.
all in all, piatti gets two thumbs up. i'd definitely come back and i'd definitely request the back patio. as lina commented, it's probably even lovelier w/the lights and heat lamps on at night. pretty AND toasty.
btw, i just found out that piatti's actually a chain. so if the food's this good AND it's a chain, i'm certainly more than impressed.
piatti restorane & bar
2182 avenida de la playa
la jolla, ca 92037
858.454.1589
http://www.piatti.com/
although we were definitely headed to ED for sweets, we weren't quite sure what was going on for lunch. not until alison's colleague suggested piatti over in la jolla. now i must admit that, when lina told me alison wanted italian, i was a bit crestfallen, especially since italian certainly isn't my cuisine of choice. however, i thought i'd give the menu a chance, considering that i never choose italian myself, and i was absolutely delighted when i saw sweetbreads on the menu. (and FYI that i'm a BIG offal eater.)
sweetbreads, when done well, pretty much do it for me. (i had them done NOT so well at comme ca in LA, and i've vowed not to go back -- well, at least for a very long time.) piatti had sweetbreads both as an appetizer dish, and as a brunch dish w/eggs. and as soon as i saw that, i knew that's what i was getting.
when we arrived, we were shown through the main dining room to the back patio. although i don't like my restaurants empty, i also don't like them packed, especially when i'm planning catch-up time and i need to hear what my companions are saying. thankfully, the place was fairly empty when we showed up around 11, which pleased me immensely. it was also nice and sunny, and just on the warm side, so it was the perfect day to sit outside. the sun was in my eyes from the start, so we shuffled over to the adjacent table with our plates. i personally don't have any qualms about doing this, especially when a place isn't crowded. and even though our server seemed surprised (and ready w/an umbrella), i'm glad the busboy made it a point to say that it wasn't a big deal. as a patron, if i wanna move, i wanna move. please don't try to stop me. it's impolite.
honestly, i must admit that the waiter was a little too old-school italian for me. he spoke a little too close to my face, and he looked a little too intense. perhaps that was his natural expression, but it weirded me out just the slightest bit. another thing that weirded me out was the fact that the big fat dude at the adjacent table literally kept staring at us. it was so bizarre. i mean, yes, we're stunning, but seriously, fans can wait outside. it was only slightly disturbing, and thankfully, i was probably the only one who noticed. two other random observations were that we seemed to be: 1) 10-15 years younger than anyone else there (at least the people paying) and 2) the only people of color. now, as someone who studies diversity, i simply notice these things. and it certainly isn't a big deal (i mean, the same thing happened at tavern in brentwood, and i absolutely LOVE tavern.). it probably just reflects the demographics of la jolla. i mean, who else would wake up for brunch at 11 on a sunday? ;) well, us, obviously.
and i'm certainly glad we did b/c the food was totally delicious and satisfying. lina went w/the french toast, which looked (and apparently tasted) quite decadent. the bread looked like huge crostini, and she made it through 2.5 slices before admitting defeat. alison chose the breakfast panini made w/pizza dough. the thing looked quite monstrous (size-wise), but she polished off a fair bit of it before we mentioned that we still had ED left on the day's food agenda. otherwise, i think it was scrumptious enough that she would've considered finishing it.
i personally LOVED my sweetbreads on egg whites (my preferred substitution for eggs -- did you know one egg is 70% of your daily cholesterol?!?). just so folks know, sweetbreads, when served in isolation, are generally prepared w/a nice sear on the outside and a melting quality on the inside. w/this particular dish, the sweetbreads came sauteed w/mushrooms and placed lightly over egg whites. first of all, both the sweetbreads and the mushrooms had just the right amount of chew. you certainly don't want either of them mushy or rubbery, and both were done perfectly in this case. secondly, the sauce was rich in flavor but not in texture. it totally brought the sweetbreads and the mushrooms together without weighing down the dish. minus the egg whites, this dish would've been perfect -- which is probably why they have it prepared as an appetizer that way. plus the egg whites, it wasn't bad. they just made the dish more breakfast-ey. in fact, they actually did a good job of soaking up the sauce and filling me up, so that i couldn't inhale the whole dish within the first five minutes of brunch. the sauce was actually so good that i allowed myself to have bread, just so i could use it to soak up the remaining traces of sauce on the plate.
in addition to my meal, i ordered a non-alcoholic mint julep, which consisted of ginger ale, lime juice, and a bit of mint. it was quite good, and i'm always appreciative of a few non-alcoholic options on drinks menus. as a non-drinker, i always feel left out, so i'm totally happy when my needs are considered.
the waiter came by at the end of the meal to tell us about a fundraising effort they were taking part of to raise money for breast cancer research. for the month of october, they were asking each patron to donate $5, and with each donation, each patron would receive a free cappuccino or coffee. considering that each drink was about $2.50, it was like each patron was donating $2.50 and the restaurant was donating another $2.50. it was quite a nice offer, and the ladies too advantage of the opportunity to get some additional sugar and caffeine. i, on the other hand, was saving up my pennies (and tummy space) for ED. i felt a little bad, but not enough to throw in another $5 from my dwindling coffers.
all in all, piatti gets two thumbs up. i'd definitely come back and i'd definitely request the back patio. as lina commented, it's probably even lovelier w/the lights and heat lamps on at night. pretty AND toasty.
btw, i just found out that piatti's actually a chain. so if the food's this good AND it's a chain, i'm certainly more than impressed.
piatti restorane & bar
2182 avenida de la playa
la jolla, ca 92037
858.454.1589
http://www.piatti.com/
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
where the wild things are
as most of you know (or should know), i'm not a fan of kids. at all. by any means. well, to be totally honest, i'll let christine's daughter veronica hug me -- she's the only one. and i think michelle and will's son danny is about the best-looking child i've ever seen. other that, i'm a fan of no other. not even my own nephew. so i'm a bad aunt. whatever. i don't care.
seeing as this semi-hatred of children is a verity, i'm always tentative about watching any movie directed at, related to, or even involving kids. animation is pretty much out, though i did enjoy "up" and "coraline" most recently. i found "wall-e" stupid (yes, stupid), except for the reference to the world becoming full of fat, lazy people. that was just hilarious in a sick, sad way. and a nice commentary on what the world could become if our relationship with technology were to go completely awry. fascinating. anyways, i digress.
considering that i'm in a reflective period of my life, i thought "where the wild things are" might be appropriate for my mood. i'd never read the book (nor had it read to me) as a child, and i really couldn't tell from the previews what it was actually going to be about. all i'd heard was that spike jonze hadn't wanted to make it more audience-friendly, which, honestly, was enough of a hook. i'm not into gift-wrapped movies unless they're romantic comedies, so i thought this might be perfect. (FYI that karen thought i might like it too, but few really know my movie tastes well enough. yes, i'm complicated.)
judy & i caught the 12:30 show and made it just in time to miss 1/2 the previews and find good seats. there were a ton of kids in there, which, after what little i'd heard about the movie (and what i thought about it afterward), meant that they hadn't really thought about what they were doing. ok, so i don't think much of modern-day parents. so sue me.
considering all my aforementioned confessions, i have to say that (drumroll, please) i thought the movie was actually quite good. before i go into why i thought it was quite good, i'll just say that the shots were a little too indie-grainy for my tastes -- as if there were a layer of dust over them. the colors were fairly muted as well, though i suppose that was appropriate for the mood spike was going for. regardless, the rest of the movie certainly made up for these minor annoyances.
in terms of plot, don't expect one. this isn't a plot-driven movie, folks, which is why i didn't think it was child-appropriate. children generally need things to HAPPEN, so unless your kid is some freak precocious thing that can sit still and appreciate the *tone* of a film, you should pass and move on to something involving a dated wrestle mania retiree. seriously.
for the *rest* of you, i'd say that this is a must-see if you're a fan of great character, cinematography, and mood in your movies.
first of all, there *is* only one real character -- max. now i must say that i found him tramping around in the same outfit the entire movie a bit gross. but then again, i'm like emma from glee -- i hate dirt. that being said, i think there was something so basic about his character that anyone could connect to it.
and all those monsters? a manifestation of all his inner selves. anxiety, fear, disappointment, anticipation, earnestness, joy. a collection of selves that don't know reality, that know reality, that want to escape it, that want to embrace it. all these big monsters, these big emotions, trapped in one little body, one little mind.
and carol? that's the self that lives in the past, that lives in memories, that won't let those memories go. that turns violent when someone tries to take those memories away. the one that resists moving forward, at the risk of destroying all the other selves.
not only does this single character give you something to think deeply about, but he draws you in, because sometimes, all you want is to be in a perfect pile of your inner selves, in a mystical happy place where they all exist and co-mingle without any thoughts or worries about a world outside. or the need to live in it.
in addition to a singular resonating character, this movie offers some spectacular cinematography. the scenes of max in the ocean are amazing. reminiscent of harry potter and dumbledore standing on a rock as the waves crash all around them. the dark hues are ominous during the rainstorm and the light hues are hopeful with the sunrise. all basic techniques i'm sure, though they coalesce brilliantly here.
the music didn't move me in the same way, though it certainly didn't detract from the film. if anything, it kept the movie going, so that you had no idea that time was passing. things happened, but you were thinking about them more than you were watching them. in fact, you have no idea how long max is gone, except for the tired look on his mother's face. the look that says, you have no idea what you've put me through, but i'm just glad you're home.
a picture of childhood.
http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/
p.s. the cameo of mark ruffalo was a nice perk! ;)
seeing as this semi-hatred of children is a verity, i'm always tentative about watching any movie directed at, related to, or even involving kids. animation is pretty much out, though i did enjoy "up" and "coraline" most recently. i found "wall-e" stupid (yes, stupid), except for the reference to the world becoming full of fat, lazy people. that was just hilarious in a sick, sad way. and a nice commentary on what the world could become if our relationship with technology were to go completely awry. fascinating. anyways, i digress.
considering that i'm in a reflective period of my life, i thought "where the wild things are" might be appropriate for my mood. i'd never read the book (nor had it read to me) as a child, and i really couldn't tell from the previews what it was actually going to be about. all i'd heard was that spike jonze hadn't wanted to make it more audience-friendly, which, honestly, was enough of a hook. i'm not into gift-wrapped movies unless they're romantic comedies, so i thought this might be perfect. (FYI that karen thought i might like it too, but few really know my movie tastes well enough. yes, i'm complicated.)
judy & i caught the 12:30 show and made it just in time to miss 1/2 the previews and find good seats. there were a ton of kids in there, which, after what little i'd heard about the movie (and what i thought about it afterward), meant that they hadn't really thought about what they were doing. ok, so i don't think much of modern-day parents. so sue me.
considering all my aforementioned confessions, i have to say that (drumroll, please) i thought the movie was actually quite good. before i go into why i thought it was quite good, i'll just say that the shots were a little too indie-grainy for my tastes -- as if there were a layer of dust over them. the colors were fairly muted as well, though i suppose that was appropriate for the mood spike was going for. regardless, the rest of the movie certainly made up for these minor annoyances.
in terms of plot, don't expect one. this isn't a plot-driven movie, folks, which is why i didn't think it was child-appropriate. children generally need things to HAPPEN, so unless your kid is some freak precocious thing that can sit still and appreciate the *tone* of a film, you should pass and move on to something involving a dated wrestle mania retiree. seriously.
for the *rest* of you, i'd say that this is a must-see if you're a fan of great character, cinematography, and mood in your movies.
first of all, there *is* only one real character -- max. now i must say that i found him tramping around in the same outfit the entire movie a bit gross. but then again, i'm like emma from glee -- i hate dirt. that being said, i think there was something so basic about his character that anyone could connect to it.
and all those monsters? a manifestation of all his inner selves. anxiety, fear, disappointment, anticipation, earnestness, joy. a collection of selves that don't know reality, that know reality, that want to escape it, that want to embrace it. all these big monsters, these big emotions, trapped in one little body, one little mind.
and carol? that's the self that lives in the past, that lives in memories, that won't let those memories go. that turns violent when someone tries to take those memories away. the one that resists moving forward, at the risk of destroying all the other selves.
not only does this single character give you something to think deeply about, but he draws you in, because sometimes, all you want is to be in a perfect pile of your inner selves, in a mystical happy place where they all exist and co-mingle without any thoughts or worries about a world outside. or the need to live in it.
in addition to a singular resonating character, this movie offers some spectacular cinematography. the scenes of max in the ocean are amazing. reminiscent of harry potter and dumbledore standing on a rock as the waves crash all around them. the dark hues are ominous during the rainstorm and the light hues are hopeful with the sunrise. all basic techniques i'm sure, though they coalesce brilliantly here.
the music didn't move me in the same way, though it certainly didn't detract from the film. if anything, it kept the movie going, so that you had no idea that time was passing. things happened, but you were thinking about them more than you were watching them. in fact, you have no idea how long max is gone, except for the tired look on his mother's face. the look that says, you have no idea what you've put me through, but i'm just glad you're home.
a picture of childhood.
http://wherethewildthingsare.warnerbros.com/
p.s. the cameo of mark ruffalo was a nice perk! ;)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
extraordinary desserts!!
next to the san diego zoo, this is my absolute FAVORITE place in san diego. hands down, no two words about it. there are two locations: one in hillcrest and one in little italy. and i favor the latter b/c: 1) the hillcrest one is kind of small, 2) someone got shot/stabbed at the hillcrest one, 3) the little italy one is way spacious and has great interior design, and 4) the little italy one offers a much better display of karen krasne's delicious masterpieces. emphasis on masterpieces.
even if you never set foot in either location, you'd need a drool bucket just staring at the incredible photos and descriptions online. ever since a friend brought me here a few years ago, the tastes and textures of karen's delicious cakes have been burned into my memory. and i've had monthly (or weekly or daily) pangs to go.
after many angst-ey FB posts, judy mentions that she's available this weekend if i needed a quick ED fix. and of course, i almost fall out of my chair with joy. (i literally had a panic attack when i thought we might not be able to go b/c she felt sick the night before! thankfully, she felt better. whew! crisis averted..)
needless to say, i was thrilled when she was up for doing brunch instead of dinner. plus, it was the perfect meal to have after a nice, long, swim workout. just the thought of all that sugar put me into a tailspin. a happy tailspin, that is! :)
one of the best things about the little italy location is that they have a savory menu on top of their wide array of sweets & teas. this is totally strategic, b/c even if you stuff yourself on their yummy salads & sandwiches, there's no way you'd leave w/o getting dessert -- even if it has to be in a to-go box.
as soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a series of display cases, filled with tiers and tiers of lovely cakes and pastries. it's like you're in a museum and willy wonka's chocolate factory at the same time. all you want to do is stare and touch and grab and eat, stare and touch and grab and eat, stare and touch and grab and eat.... well, you get the point. if you went and looked at every single item carefully (the way my brother does w/museum placards), it'd probably take you at least 15-20 minutes. i know, b/c, well, i've done it. and seriously, don't judge until you get here.
even though i was distracted momentarily by all the gorgeous sweets, judy made a beeline for the hostess and we were seated right away. after she'd mentioned on FB how good the grilled cheese sandwiches were, i didn't even really bother considering any other options (though the paninis looked quite good). we both decided that coffee and grilled cheese were the way to go. judy w/her fontina, roasted poblano, and pumpkin pesto. me w/my gruyere, caramelized white onions, and whole grain mustard.
both sandwiches sounded really balanced in terms of salty/sweet, and i know mine was quite scrumptious. the sandwich was done panini-style w/all the ingredients sandwiched in nicely w/in the edges of the bread, and everything oozing out *just* slightly when i bit into it. to some degree, i wished the sandwich had been a bit more substantial. (i suppose i was expecting a bit more oozing!) then again, i could've just been hungry and wanting that portabello & brie panini i was eye-ing. *sigh* ;) the only other real criticism i had was that the bread was a little greasy, so i suppose a little less butter would've suited me better.
regardless, the sandwiches were merely to make sure we didn't have *just* sugar in our tummies upon departure. and as soon as we were done w/them (and we pretty much polished them off), we sauntered back up to the front of the house to make our dessert picks. after choosing our own favorites, we decided on which ones we'd be willing to split, and we went w/the ivoire royale and the triple chocolate mousse torte. (FYI that i'd pretty much decided on the roasted coconut cream torte after surveying the options online, but unfortunately, it didn't show up in the case until we were already done! i totally should've asked whether they had it, but thank goodness for lina's upcoming visit! :D)
out of the two, the ivoire royale was definitely my favorite. the vanilla bean soaked pound cake was super light, the berries offered just the right amount of sweetness and acidity, and i'm an absolute sucker for white chocolate mousse and white chocolate shavings. even though i always tell myself that i want coconut or lemon or fruit, i always seem to get pulled in by chocolate. needless to say, it happened again. this time, the triple chocolate mousse torte did me in. even though i'm glad we tried it (especially since i just noticed online that it's the "most recent decadent addition"), i found it way too dense and way too rich. i literally had had enough after a few bites, though i felt like i should continue eating it so as to not let it go to waste! while tiramisu isn't usually my dessert of choice, i'm thinking now that judy's pick of the torta misu (ED's version of the traditional dessert) might've been a better way to go. thankfully, i found out ED is one of her favorite places too! so we'll just have to get that next time. :)
to anyone who EVER visits san diego, this dessert paradise is NOT too be missed. and for those of you who want to try a little bit of everything, ED also offers a lovely sunday brunch spread!
extraordinary desserts
http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/
even if you never set foot in either location, you'd need a drool bucket just staring at the incredible photos and descriptions online. ever since a friend brought me here a few years ago, the tastes and textures of karen's delicious cakes have been burned into my memory. and i've had monthly (or weekly or daily) pangs to go.
after many angst-ey FB posts, judy mentions that she's available this weekend if i needed a quick ED fix. and of course, i almost fall out of my chair with joy. (i literally had a panic attack when i thought we might not be able to go b/c she felt sick the night before! thankfully, she felt better. whew! crisis averted..)
needless to say, i was thrilled when she was up for doing brunch instead of dinner. plus, it was the perfect meal to have after a nice, long, swim workout. just the thought of all that sugar put me into a tailspin. a happy tailspin, that is! :)
one of the best things about the little italy location is that they have a savory menu on top of their wide array of sweets & teas. this is totally strategic, b/c even if you stuff yourself on their yummy salads & sandwiches, there's no way you'd leave w/o getting dessert -- even if it has to be in a to-go box.
as soon as you walk in, you're greeted by a series of display cases, filled with tiers and tiers of lovely cakes and pastries. it's like you're in a museum and willy wonka's chocolate factory at the same time. all you want to do is stare and touch and grab and eat, stare and touch and grab and eat, stare and touch and grab and eat.... well, you get the point. if you went and looked at every single item carefully (the way my brother does w/museum placards), it'd probably take you at least 15-20 minutes. i know, b/c, well, i've done it. and seriously, don't judge until you get here.
even though i was distracted momentarily by all the gorgeous sweets, judy made a beeline for the hostess and we were seated right away. after she'd mentioned on FB how good the grilled cheese sandwiches were, i didn't even really bother considering any other options (though the paninis looked quite good). we both decided that coffee and grilled cheese were the way to go. judy w/her fontina, roasted poblano, and pumpkin pesto. me w/my gruyere, caramelized white onions, and whole grain mustard.
both sandwiches sounded really balanced in terms of salty/sweet, and i know mine was quite scrumptious. the sandwich was done panini-style w/all the ingredients sandwiched in nicely w/in the edges of the bread, and everything oozing out *just* slightly when i bit into it. to some degree, i wished the sandwich had been a bit more substantial. (i suppose i was expecting a bit more oozing!) then again, i could've just been hungry and wanting that portabello & brie panini i was eye-ing. *sigh* ;) the only other real criticism i had was that the bread was a little greasy, so i suppose a little less butter would've suited me better.
regardless, the sandwiches were merely to make sure we didn't have *just* sugar in our tummies upon departure. and as soon as we were done w/them (and we pretty much polished them off), we sauntered back up to the front of the house to make our dessert picks. after choosing our own favorites, we decided on which ones we'd be willing to split, and we went w/the ivoire royale and the triple chocolate mousse torte. (FYI that i'd pretty much decided on the roasted coconut cream torte after surveying the options online, but unfortunately, it didn't show up in the case until we were already done! i totally should've asked whether they had it, but thank goodness for lina's upcoming visit! :D)
out of the two, the ivoire royale was definitely my favorite. the vanilla bean soaked pound cake was super light, the berries offered just the right amount of sweetness and acidity, and i'm an absolute sucker for white chocolate mousse and white chocolate shavings. even though i always tell myself that i want coconut or lemon or fruit, i always seem to get pulled in by chocolate. needless to say, it happened again. this time, the triple chocolate mousse torte did me in. even though i'm glad we tried it (especially since i just noticed online that it's the "most recent decadent addition"), i found it way too dense and way too rich. i literally had had enough after a few bites, though i felt like i should continue eating it so as to not let it go to waste! while tiramisu isn't usually my dessert of choice, i'm thinking now that judy's pick of the torta misu (ED's version of the traditional dessert) might've been a better way to go. thankfully, i found out ED is one of her favorite places too! so we'll just have to get that next time. :)
to anyone who EVER visits san diego, this dessert paradise is NOT too be missed. and for those of you who want to try a little bit of everything, ED also offers a lovely sunday brunch spread!
extraordinary desserts
http://www.extraordinarydesserts.com/
Saturday, October 3, 2009
ba ren szechuan & pearl chinese cuisine
seeing as how my day has practically disappeared already, i might as well take a few moments to reflect upon two other blog-worthy asian eateries i've had a chance to enjoy since getting to san diego.
the first: ba ren szechuan. a pick of miss wendy, who loves her spicy food! we went on a monday night, and it was fairly quiet around 7-7:30. we weren't even sure it was still open for business, given that we didn't receive any sort of greeting upon walking in the door. thankfully, the situation was quickly rectified, as a waiter pointed us to an open booth. even before i could take a few steps, i was distracted by the case of yummy goodness on my left. in it was house a huge selection of cold dishes: seawood, pigs ears, tripe, and who knows what other kinds of offal. to which i say: YUM!
yelp had warned us that at least 1/2 the menu would be in chinese. that didn't dissuade us, as we were starving and we already had a few things in mind. we started with a few of the dishes from the case by the door. the pigs ears had just the right amount of chew and spice, but methinks they could've used a bit more salt. the pork tongue was more flavorful and disappeared fairly quickly. i believe we also picked out some seawood, that offered a nice cool contrast to all of our other dishes.
this was necessary (as was the white rice that i normally don't eat) b/c the rest of the meal was HOT. so very HOT. not bad hot, just HOT. (get my drift?) seeing that it was just the two of us, we couldn't order everything we wanted. so we went with two yelp suggestions (the sliced boiled fish & the chicken with hot peppers), the smoked duck (a personal must-try), and some sort of spicy veggy dish (i think). let's just say that the first two were SPICY, with the chicken being the spiciest of them all. it was one of those things where you eat it and you think you're ok. but within seconds, you realize, you're not ok. it's a "creeper" spicy, as i like to call it. so thank goodness for lots of rice and water. again, it wasn't bad hot, just simply very very HOT. the little chicken pieces were nice & crunchy, which made the whole experience seem like eating spicy pop rocks. the fish also had a bit of a kick, so the duck was definitely the palate calmer/cooler/cleanser. personally, i think the duck could've been smokier and saltier, but it provided a nice contrast to all the intense spice.
all in all, ba ren was definitely a great way to kick off asian eating in SD. thanks, wendy, for picking the first yummy spot!
ba ren szechuan
4957 diane avenue
san diego, ca 92117
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ba-ren-szechuan-san-diego
**********
to kick off a fun weekend/week w/the in-laws, i decided to partake in family dim sum at pearl, located in rancho bernardo, only a mere 15 minutes away. i wasn't quite sure if i was up for it, as i'm not the biggest fan of asian carbs. it's not that my tastebuds don't enjoy them -- i just always end up eating too much! but considering that i haven't had dim sum in a year, i thought i'd cut myself some slack, especially post-2-hour workout. (it's painful how i challenge my body. *sigh*)
i was certainly pleased to roll up to a lovely restaurant front. as most of my dim sum experiences have taken place in cramped NY and LA (and even sydney) restaurants, this was definitely a treat. first of all, i arrived to see a big purple sign w/"pearl" in hip font. i'm a big fan of exterior & interior design, so this boded well. i walked in to see a sea of tables & chairs done up in wedding attire -- all white w/the requisite bows on chair backs. according to jerry, "it always looks like this" -- our waiter even switched out two of our chairs so that they would all match! in addition, one side of the restaurant (which was a nice long rectangle) looked out on a man-made pond w/ducks floating past. (we checked out "webb park" -- the park out back -- after the meal, and it was definitely the perfect spot for wedding photos.) in addition to providing great service, the staff were all dressed in uniforms or traditional chinese attire (chi paos & mao jackets), which added a nice touch.
foodwise, i was quite pleased with the variety of dishes, which included traditional as well as more contemporary options. the dragon's claws (chicken feet) were intensely flavorful and meatier than i've ever had them. even though this meant that there were only 2-3 of them on the small plate, i'd much prefer this over skinny claws w/nothing but skin. we picked out both the steamed bbq pork buns (which T&J preferred) and the roasted bbq pork buns (which i preferred). both were scrumptious, though mine could've had a better meat: bread ratio. regardless, 2 of these buns (and a crispy spring roll) were a good use of my allowable carbs. the salt & pepper calamari dish (apparently a big fave of the aussies in sydney, as they were literally on every single menu i saw) was actually a bit too salty (though i'd never admit that to teresa) and definitely did not come straight out of the fryer. the thing was room temp, if not chilly to the tongue, and could've used a flash-fry or something before coming out to the table. (a nearby table also mentioned one of their dishes being too cold, so this may be something that management needs to work on.) the mango pudding was also in need of some serious sugar AND mango flavor, plus it could've done w/o the non-ripe cantaloupe & honeydew (which cameron promptly spit out). the fam did, however, enjoy the roast pork noodles, the pork ribs, and the shumai -- none of which i partook in, though i trust their assessment enough to mention it here. the rest of the dishes on the carts floating by looked delectable (and worth a taste in the near future), though the roast pork in san diego all seem a bit too lean for my tastes. what's w/the lean meat, folks??
the phuong trang gang did mention pearl as one of their top dim sum picks in the area (the other two being jasmine & emerald), so i'm glad i made it out. jerry also mentioned pearl & emerald having the same owners, so it seems like jasmine is next on the list to try. for now, this place gets two thumbs up. it was 11:30AM by the time we sat down on a saturday morning, and we still had TONS of elbow room -- a definite plus in my book!
pearl chinese cuisine
11666 avena place
san diego, ca 92128
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pearl-chinese-cuisine-san-diego
the first: ba ren szechuan. a pick of miss wendy, who loves her spicy food! we went on a monday night, and it was fairly quiet around 7-7:30. we weren't even sure it was still open for business, given that we didn't receive any sort of greeting upon walking in the door. thankfully, the situation was quickly rectified, as a waiter pointed us to an open booth. even before i could take a few steps, i was distracted by the case of yummy goodness on my left. in it was house a huge selection of cold dishes: seawood, pigs ears, tripe, and who knows what other kinds of offal. to which i say: YUM!
yelp had warned us that at least 1/2 the menu would be in chinese. that didn't dissuade us, as we were starving and we already had a few things in mind. we started with a few of the dishes from the case by the door. the pigs ears had just the right amount of chew and spice, but methinks they could've used a bit more salt. the pork tongue was more flavorful and disappeared fairly quickly. i believe we also picked out some seawood, that offered a nice cool contrast to all of our other dishes.
this was necessary (as was the white rice that i normally don't eat) b/c the rest of the meal was HOT. so very HOT. not bad hot, just HOT. (get my drift?) seeing that it was just the two of us, we couldn't order everything we wanted. so we went with two yelp suggestions (the sliced boiled fish & the chicken with hot peppers), the smoked duck (a personal must-try), and some sort of spicy veggy dish (i think). let's just say that the first two were SPICY, with the chicken being the spiciest of them all. it was one of those things where you eat it and you think you're ok. but within seconds, you realize, you're not ok. it's a "creeper" spicy, as i like to call it. so thank goodness for lots of rice and water. again, it wasn't bad hot, just simply very very HOT. the little chicken pieces were nice & crunchy, which made the whole experience seem like eating spicy pop rocks. the fish also had a bit of a kick, so the duck was definitely the palate calmer/cooler/cleanser. personally, i think the duck could've been smokier and saltier, but it provided a nice contrast to all the intense spice.
all in all, ba ren was definitely a great way to kick off asian eating in SD. thanks, wendy, for picking the first yummy spot!
ba ren szechuan
4957 diane avenue
san diego, ca 92117
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ba-ren-szechuan-san-diego
**********
to kick off a fun weekend/week w/the in-laws, i decided to partake in family dim sum at pearl, located in rancho bernardo, only a mere 15 minutes away. i wasn't quite sure if i was up for it, as i'm not the biggest fan of asian carbs. it's not that my tastebuds don't enjoy them -- i just always end up eating too much! but considering that i haven't had dim sum in a year, i thought i'd cut myself some slack, especially post-2-hour workout. (it's painful how i challenge my body. *sigh*)
i was certainly pleased to roll up to a lovely restaurant front. as most of my dim sum experiences have taken place in cramped NY and LA (and even sydney) restaurants, this was definitely a treat. first of all, i arrived to see a big purple sign w/"pearl" in hip font. i'm a big fan of exterior & interior design, so this boded well. i walked in to see a sea of tables & chairs done up in wedding attire -- all white w/the requisite bows on chair backs. according to jerry, "it always looks like this" -- our waiter even switched out two of our chairs so that they would all match! in addition, one side of the restaurant (which was a nice long rectangle) looked out on a man-made pond w/ducks floating past. (we checked out "webb park" -- the park out back -- after the meal, and it was definitely the perfect spot for wedding photos.) in addition to providing great service, the staff were all dressed in uniforms or traditional chinese attire (chi paos & mao jackets), which added a nice touch.
foodwise, i was quite pleased with the variety of dishes, which included traditional as well as more contemporary options. the dragon's claws (chicken feet) were intensely flavorful and meatier than i've ever had them. even though this meant that there were only 2-3 of them on the small plate, i'd much prefer this over skinny claws w/nothing but skin. we picked out both the steamed bbq pork buns (which T&J preferred) and the roasted bbq pork buns (which i preferred). both were scrumptious, though mine could've had a better meat: bread ratio. regardless, 2 of these buns (and a crispy spring roll) were a good use of my allowable carbs. the salt & pepper calamari dish (apparently a big fave of the aussies in sydney, as they were literally on every single menu i saw) was actually a bit too salty (though i'd never admit that to teresa) and definitely did not come straight out of the fryer. the thing was room temp, if not chilly to the tongue, and could've used a flash-fry or something before coming out to the table. (a nearby table also mentioned one of their dishes being too cold, so this may be something that management needs to work on.) the mango pudding was also in need of some serious sugar AND mango flavor, plus it could've done w/o the non-ripe cantaloupe & honeydew (which cameron promptly spit out). the fam did, however, enjoy the roast pork noodles, the pork ribs, and the shumai -- none of which i partook in, though i trust their assessment enough to mention it here. the rest of the dishes on the carts floating by looked delectable (and worth a taste in the near future), though the roast pork in san diego all seem a bit too lean for my tastes. what's w/the lean meat, folks??
the phuong trang gang did mention pearl as one of their top dim sum picks in the area (the other two being jasmine & emerald), so i'm glad i made it out. jerry also mentioned pearl & emerald having the same owners, so it seems like jasmine is next on the list to try. for now, this place gets two thumbs up. it was 11:30AM by the time we sat down on a saturday morning, and we still had TONS of elbow room -- a definite plus in my book!
pearl chinese cuisine
11666 avena place
san diego, ca 92128
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pearl-chinese-cuisine-san-diego
Friday, October 2, 2009
phuong trang - vietnamese heaven
after i was pretty much facebook pummeled for not having had pho before last weekend, i couldn't say no when dave suggested a vietnamese food outing this week. with some snazzy coordination skills, we were able to get a nice-sized group together. asian meals are best done family-style -- it's so much easier to sample stuff!
and sampling was priority, as i've only had vietnamese a couple of times, and andrew had never had it at all! (a total travesty, i know! ahem.) thankfully, dave & an were semi-experts, so we let dave pick everything (w/our suggestions, of course). and we ended up with a lazy susan that was, well, lazy. the poor thing was covered in so many dishes that we had to eat & clear, eat & clear, eat & clear.... well, you get the picture. plus we had to keep the fried rice (which was a total throwaway) on another table.
we weren't sure we'd get through it all, but we did a pretty good job jamming everything into our tummies. the highlights for me included: the cha gio (the fried egg rolls), the tom rang muoi (the fried salted shrimp), the goi sua tom thit (the shrimp, pork, & jellyfish salad), the ca kho (the catfish sauteed in fish sauce), the dan hu xao xa ot (the tofu w/lemongrass & hot pepper), the bo lu lac (the beef cube steak), and the suon ram man (the pork spare ribs sauteed in fish sauce).
now i know you all think that i just typed out the whole menu for you, but i assure you that the menu was GINORMOUS. thank goodness most of us had skimmed through it online. and thank goodness we were all so starved that we just let dave do all the work. [thanks, dave! ;)]
aside from the fact that the restaurant didn't have dungeness crab OR lobster available to us on a tuesday night at 7PM (i mean, seriously?), the service was actually quite impeccable. water appeared fairly quickly, our server was on top of his schtuff, and our food came out as soon as each dish was ready.
first things first, the apps were the perfect intro to the meal. the egg rolls were just greasy enough so that you knew they were fried, and they were *so* hot (as in, straight-from-the-fryer hot) that you had to be careful not to burn your tongue. that said, the skin offered an audible crunch as your teeth sank into the salty filling. the fried shrimp was also a big hit. after i was politely schooled by dave on how i should *not* take off the crispy shells encrusted with yummy salt, i had a much easier time. (i swear i was burning my fingertips!) these apps went quick, so it was clear that it was going to be all-hands-on-deck for the rest of the meal. (FYI to all those who are squeamish, the heads are left on and the bodies aren't de-veined. if you have issues, the shrimp aren't for you. ahem, chris, ahem.)
[btw, i'm glad some of the other folks were more polite, b/c otherwise i wouldn't have been able to get back for the necessary seconds and thirds!]
wendy & i had both skimmed rave reviews on yelp for the sauteed catfish & the lemongrass tofu, so they absolutely HAD to be ordered. dave & an had had the catfish on previous visits -- and both raved. after it came to the table, we ALL raved. i was just telling jerry & teresa the other day about how i didn't like catfish. well, let's just say, exceptions can be made. this catfish was absolutely PHENOMENAL. the sauce was practically lacquered onto the fish (in a good way), and the blend of sweet & salty w/just a hint of spice was heavenly. there was also just enough fat on the fish to make it go down super smoothly. wendy & i split a piece, and i swear my chopsticks went into the pot a few more times. (and apologies to all, b/c that was definitely NOT a very big pot.)
in similar fashion, the tofu was pretty much encased by the sauce (again, in a good way). the cubes came out with a thin crispy yellow exterior, a warm melting white middle, and a light coating of red spicy sauce. a great balance of textures and tastes that worked a whole bunch of tastebuds at once. as we were trying to cool down from the physical heat of these early dishes, the salad was a great last-minute addition. first of all, who doesn't love the jellyfish chew? (that's a rhetorical question btw.) secondly, i noticed that the kitchen actually took the time to cook the shrimp perfectly (not chewy like the jelly) and to halve them neatly! it was quite a contrast to the fried shrimp, but just as good.
and b/c wendy & i are carnivores, andrew eats at least 4000 calories a day, and the rest of the table was hungry too, we asked for LOTS of meat. my personal faves were the beef cubes & the pork spare ribs. i'm partial to pork, so spare ribs pretty much have to be ordered whenever they're on the menu. from what i can tell from the menu, the sauce may have been similar to the one on the catfish. this is likely as i found myself going back for more of the pork. there's something about this caramelized fish sauce thing that's got me hooked! at any rate, the beef was also very good, though anything that comes over to me sizzling is bound to grab my attention.
the rest of the dishes -- some plates of chicken, a catfish soup, the fried rice -- were pretty typical and throwaway and possibly American-ish. while this doesn't mean they weren't flavorful, they definitely couldn't compete w/the others i took time to describe. it would've been nice to try some of the desserts, but it seemed like everyone was a bit too stuffed by the end of the meal. granted, dave could still inhale a few bowls of rice soaked in caramelized fish sauce, but the rest of us were spent.
despite my lack of familiarity with vietnamese food, and my preference for virginia's homecooking, i have to give this place 5 stars. yelp can be temperamental, but i certainly swear by the suggestions offered up for this strip mall hot spot!
phuong trang restaurant
4170 convoy street
san diego, ca 92111
858.565.6750
http://www.phuongtrangrestaurant.com/
and sampling was priority, as i've only had vietnamese a couple of times, and andrew had never had it at all! (a total travesty, i know! ahem.) thankfully, dave & an were semi-experts, so we let dave pick everything (w/our suggestions, of course). and we ended up with a lazy susan that was, well, lazy. the poor thing was covered in so many dishes that we had to eat & clear, eat & clear, eat & clear.... well, you get the picture. plus we had to keep the fried rice (which was a total throwaway) on another table.
we weren't sure we'd get through it all, but we did a pretty good job jamming everything into our tummies. the highlights for me included: the cha gio (the fried egg rolls), the tom rang muoi (the fried salted shrimp), the goi sua tom thit (the shrimp, pork, & jellyfish salad), the ca kho (the catfish sauteed in fish sauce), the dan hu xao xa ot (the tofu w/lemongrass & hot pepper), the bo lu lac (the beef cube steak), and the suon ram man (the pork spare ribs sauteed in fish sauce).
now i know you all think that i just typed out the whole menu for you, but i assure you that the menu was GINORMOUS. thank goodness most of us had skimmed through it online. and thank goodness we were all so starved that we just let dave do all the work. [thanks, dave! ;)]
aside from the fact that the restaurant didn't have dungeness crab OR lobster available to us on a tuesday night at 7PM (i mean, seriously?), the service was actually quite impeccable. water appeared fairly quickly, our server was on top of his schtuff, and our food came out as soon as each dish was ready.
first things first, the apps were the perfect intro to the meal. the egg rolls were just greasy enough so that you knew they were fried, and they were *so* hot (as in, straight-from-the-fryer hot) that you had to be careful not to burn your tongue. that said, the skin offered an audible crunch as your teeth sank into the salty filling. the fried shrimp was also a big hit. after i was politely schooled by dave on how i should *not* take off the crispy shells encrusted with yummy salt, i had a much easier time. (i swear i was burning my fingertips!) these apps went quick, so it was clear that it was going to be all-hands-on-deck for the rest of the meal. (FYI to all those who are squeamish, the heads are left on and the bodies aren't de-veined. if you have issues, the shrimp aren't for you. ahem, chris, ahem.)
[btw, i'm glad some of the other folks were more polite, b/c otherwise i wouldn't have been able to get back for the necessary seconds and thirds!]
wendy & i had both skimmed rave reviews on yelp for the sauteed catfish & the lemongrass tofu, so they absolutely HAD to be ordered. dave & an had had the catfish on previous visits -- and both raved. after it came to the table, we ALL raved. i was just telling jerry & teresa the other day about how i didn't like catfish. well, let's just say, exceptions can be made. this catfish was absolutely PHENOMENAL. the sauce was practically lacquered onto the fish (in a good way), and the blend of sweet & salty w/just a hint of spice was heavenly. there was also just enough fat on the fish to make it go down super smoothly. wendy & i split a piece, and i swear my chopsticks went into the pot a few more times. (and apologies to all, b/c that was definitely NOT a very big pot.)
in similar fashion, the tofu was pretty much encased by the sauce (again, in a good way). the cubes came out with a thin crispy yellow exterior, a warm melting white middle, and a light coating of red spicy sauce. a great balance of textures and tastes that worked a whole bunch of tastebuds at once. as we were trying to cool down from the physical heat of these early dishes, the salad was a great last-minute addition. first of all, who doesn't love the jellyfish chew? (that's a rhetorical question btw.) secondly, i noticed that the kitchen actually took the time to cook the shrimp perfectly (not chewy like the jelly) and to halve them neatly! it was quite a contrast to the fried shrimp, but just as good.
and b/c wendy & i are carnivores, andrew eats at least 4000 calories a day, and the rest of the table was hungry too, we asked for LOTS of meat. my personal faves were the beef cubes & the pork spare ribs. i'm partial to pork, so spare ribs pretty much have to be ordered whenever they're on the menu. from what i can tell from the menu, the sauce may have been similar to the one on the catfish. this is likely as i found myself going back for more of the pork. there's something about this caramelized fish sauce thing that's got me hooked! at any rate, the beef was also very good, though anything that comes over to me sizzling is bound to grab my attention.
the rest of the dishes -- some plates of chicken, a catfish soup, the fried rice -- were pretty typical and throwaway and possibly American-ish. while this doesn't mean they weren't flavorful, they definitely couldn't compete w/the others i took time to describe. it would've been nice to try some of the desserts, but it seemed like everyone was a bit too stuffed by the end of the meal. granted, dave could still inhale a few bowls of rice soaked in caramelized fish sauce, but the rest of us were spent.
despite my lack of familiarity with vietnamese food, and my preference for virginia's homecooking, i have to give this place 5 stars. yelp can be temperamental, but i certainly swear by the suggestions offered up for this strip mall hot spot!
phuong trang restaurant
4170 convoy street
san diego, ca 92111
858.565.6750
http://www.phuongtrangrestaurant.com/
Sunday, September 20, 2009
a new life in SD
yet again, yet again, it's been months and months since my last posting. it'd be a surprise if anyone were still reading this! :( if you are, i applaud you! (and virtually hug you!) :)
i only have about 20 minutes before i have to get to work, but life in SD has been good to me. VERY good. needless to say, it's been a blessing and a curse that i can't drive in the suburbs. while i don't have easy access to, well, just about anything, it's amazing how much work i've been able to get done w/o the distractions of LA life. i miss my friends though, so thank goodness for facebook and gchat and the modern miracles of technology.
since i've linked my blog accounts, i'll direct any interested (and worthy) individuals to my other blog (http://lilmissdissertation.blogspot.com/) for dissertation-related commentary. (and yes, folks, i know it's empty. i can only do so much! or else risk getting comments that i'm not directing enough time to my dissertation -- which i hate, btw, so if you've done it or you've thought about doing it, don't.)
for now, i'll just jot down a few notes of worth re: movies & munches in SD....
1. the time traveler's wife - overrated. i love rachel mcadams and i'll watch anything she's in. but i don't think eric bana is cute AT ALL. there was a reason i couldn't get through the book. and it's possibly the same reason that i'm thinking my movie ticket was a waste of non-existent funds. (FYI that i have no income for this academic year! though i'll try to minimize regular comments re: my super tight purse strings.) there was just no real PLOT. i know, i know, some movies/stories are more about character development. but honestly, i need PLOT. and yes, i did tear up during some parts of the movie. but as most of you know, i cry at EVERYTHING. so this isn't really a reflection of movie quality. sorry, new line, for the first time in a long time, you disappointed. (sorry, dani! i really thought that i thought the movie was ok. until i didn't.) :(
2. royal india restaurant (http://www.royalindia.com/index.html) - pretty decent. i'm a sucker for a good indian buffet -- and now so are my students! :) i must admit that the lunch buffet selection was small compared to our last group excursion to jaipur (http://www.jaipurcuisineofindia.com/). that being said, what the restaurant did offer was pretty darn scrumptious. the naan (both garlic and regular) had a pleasant chewiness, the meats were nice and moist, and the sauces were flavorful (as melissa knows gail simmons likes to say) w/o being overwhelmingly weighted down by butter (which apparently many indian sauces tend to be).
3. la jolla beach (http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml) - too crowded. enough said. but FYI that i hate beaches. sand = dirt.
4. the first wives club at the old globe (http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=6950) - AMAZING. thanks to a work connection, jerry & teresa have been able to usher shows at the old globe -- a lovely and intimate venue situated w/in the confines of balboa park. i got the chance to sub one week and watch a performance of the broadway-bound musical, the first wives club. not only did we get great seats (only a few rows back!), but the show was absolutely AMAZING. it's been a while since i've seen a musical, but the voices were wonderful. some movies don't work out when turned into musicals (ahem, dirty dancing, ahem), but i had no complaints about this one. in fact, i think i might've liked it even more than the movie! bravo, bravo.
5. rancho family YMCA (http://www.rancho.ymca.org/english/) - RP's saving grace. this is one of the few places w/in walking distance of the fortress that is known as my brother's house. FYI that this area is WAY hilly and that this house has close-to-zero sprint reception. thank goodness for: a) internet, b) cable, and c) the local Y. i have to admit that i had reservations when teresa told me this was the local gym. jerry & i grew up in the projects, and i have absolutely heinous memories of the uber crowded flushing Y & the super annoying swim classes in the heated pool (despite a hot, red-headed swim instructor). that being said, i can't be w/o a gym, so i was thrilled when my reduced-fee membership (given my current financial status) finally got approved. even though this process required documentation of every penny to my name (what little there is! ok, ok, i'll stop.), it's worth it to pay only $15 a month for a pretty decent gym. i'll admit that Y's always seem to have way too many kids little running around them (FYI that i hate kids -- yes, yes, it's true). but the cardio/strength room has never been too crowded during my workout times, and i can easily get an hour (plus, even!) on the treadmill w/o interruption. while some of the instructors leave a lot to be desired (one of them took calls DURING class! another one was 10 minutes late, didn't have her sneakers on, & didn't think the participant who set up her step for her!) and the music is usually too fast (as an instructor myself, i must be critical!), i've had success w/one step instructor, a kickboxing class, a bootcamp class, and a zumba class. the last one is a recent addition to the repertoire, but the instructor is just so peppy that you can't resist wanting to get your hips moving. i can't wait to start volunteer teaching (first aid certification -- check!), but it looks like the schedule may not change till early october. bummer. well, fingers crossed that i can sub soon! also, i signed up for a potential Y running group. so hopefully that'll get me motivated for half-marathon training. woohoo!
6. point loma seafoods (http://www.pointlomaseafoods.com/) - super affordable and fresh seafood. part seafood purveyor, part seafood restaurant, this place offers delicious and fresh seafood at great prices. thanks to my brother's (continuing) generosity, i got to try a super simple yet yummy crab sandwich. literally, it was nothing more than chunks of fresh crabmeat & a bit of tartar sauce slapped in b/w two slices of sourdough bread. BUT BOY WAS IT GOOD. my SIL had the same thing, and we were both quite pleased. i thought it could've used slightly more salt, but she thought it was missing something else. my brother got a cod plate w/fries, but needed an extra order of sushi to get full. i think the fam was a bit underwhelmed (they're pretty picky), but i was perfectly happy w/my sammy. i do have to say that there were a bit too many pigeons (and babies) hanging around the indoor space for my tastes. sitting outside under the umbrellas would've been much preferred.
7. cupcakes squared (http://www.cupcakessquared.com/) - totally worth the trek. after staring longingly at their cupcake calendar, i was super excited when the fam suggested that we go out for a seafood and cupcake adventure. after a light seafood meal, a decadent cupcake is surely the best ending. while neither my brother nor SIL were planning to have any (pfft!), neither of them could resist after we walked into the shop. not only does this place have regular-sized cupcakes, but mini-sized cupcakes as well. and all in unique square shapes! (even now i'm annoyed at myself for not "getting it" sooner -- cupcakes squared, as in, cupcakes SQUARED. right? RIIIIIIIGHT. eeeeeeeeee-diot!!! *sigh*) while it was a bit annoying that they didn't have all their sunday flavors in mini version, they had a nice enough selection for us to choose from. and samples of the peanut butter berry (which totally tasted like a PB&J sandwich) and the not so red velvet (which was totally light brown and not red at all). we went w/the regular-sized lillikoi (jerry's pick), the regular-sized mocha squared (my pick), and a mini vanilla chai (which just happened to be available). flavor-wise, my brother & i really enjoyed the lillikoi frosting over the vanilla cupcake. teresa's not a fan (your loss, lady), but the ngai's really dig the passionfruit -- nice sweetness w/just enough tang. jerry doesn't like chocolate (which is ridiculous, if you ask me), so i pretty much inhaled the mocha squared on my own. a great coffee/chocolate blend. the mini cupcake totally tasted like a vanilla chai latte. overall, the fam enjoyed CS much more than sprinkles, particularly the cake to frosting ratio. (this kinda makes me sad, only b/c i really REALLY love sprinkles.) they find sprinkles frosting way too rich -- and think there's too much of it. i have to agree w/the latter point, but i definitely prefer the decadence of sprinkles frosting. i found CS frosting to be a bit too fluffy, a bit too whipped. i prefer buttercream to taste like BUTTERcream, not WHIPPED cream. cake-wise, it's a tie. both are nice and moist, w/CS cake being slightly lighter. that being said, i must admit that i do prefer the size & price of CS cupcakes. i'll inhale sprinkles cupcakes, but i'll inevitably feel gross after b/c they're just so big. plus, cupcakes aren't really meant to be stored, so it's no use trying to make the experience last over a few days. w/CS cupcakes, i can have just one and be satiated but not feel fat. always a plus.
8. SD farmers markets (http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php) - YAY! thank goodness for family members who love food -- and shopping for food! if you're ever looking for us, we can be regularly spotted at Vons, Henry's, or one of many local farmers markets. the fam prefers poway, and i love seeing everyone & their dogs winding their way around the stalls. upon request, jerry picked me up a scottish egg and i devoured it quickly upon completion of my regular 2-hour saturday workout. not the most healthy thing i suppose (an egg wrapped in sausage meat and covered in breadcrumbs), but unique and filling nevertheless. we'll be getting started with a bi-weekly CSA box soon, so i'm excited to cook up some yummy veggies. i've been really into *themed* meals recently (linked to the never-ending stream of season premieres), and my brother & i did a really nice job w/gossip girl -- new york strip w/blue cheese butter, roasted beets w/olive oil & sea salt, and sauteed beet greens. DEE-LISH. i baked up a pear upside down cake, though the two hot tamales recipe may need a bit of tweaking. next up is grey's anatomy, which may require a bit more thought. we'll be attempting a chicken with figs in ras-el-hanout and couscous recipe (c/o epicurious.com) this week, and possibly some glazed/roasted figs for dessert. fingers crossed!
9. seeing as this blog entry has already taken away two hours of my precious sunday, i'll end w/a quick list of final thoughts. royal pains - oh how i can't believe i need to wait till next summer to see you again. GLEE - great first episode, great second episode, mediocre third episode (meaning: get your act together before you lose your audience). eragon - great story that i'm sad i don't have time for every single night. wired - so engaging, so interesting, i'm so glad you only come monthly or else i'd never get any work done. FB/gchat - thanks for keeping me sane. friends of all sorts - i miss you and i'm happy that you're always willing to call me back on my home phone b/c of really bad sprint reception in the boonies.
for now, i bid you all adieu! btw, we have stairs in the house and i *totally* started singing the "so long, farewell" song from the sound of music. (eri, i know you hate it, but i was good -- totally karaoke-worthy.)
i only have about 20 minutes before i have to get to work, but life in SD has been good to me. VERY good. needless to say, it's been a blessing and a curse that i can't drive in the suburbs. while i don't have easy access to, well, just about anything, it's amazing how much work i've been able to get done w/o the distractions of LA life. i miss my friends though, so thank goodness for facebook and gchat and the modern miracles of technology.
since i've linked my blog accounts, i'll direct any interested (and worthy) individuals to my other blog (http://lilmissdissertation.blogspot.com/) for dissertation-related commentary. (and yes, folks, i know it's empty. i can only do so much! or else risk getting comments that i'm not directing enough time to my dissertation -- which i hate, btw, so if you've done it or you've thought about doing it, don't.)
for now, i'll just jot down a few notes of worth re: movies & munches in SD....
1. the time traveler's wife - overrated. i love rachel mcadams and i'll watch anything she's in. but i don't think eric bana is cute AT ALL. there was a reason i couldn't get through the book. and it's possibly the same reason that i'm thinking my movie ticket was a waste of non-existent funds. (FYI that i have no income for this academic year! though i'll try to minimize regular comments re: my super tight purse strings.) there was just no real PLOT. i know, i know, some movies/stories are more about character development. but honestly, i need PLOT. and yes, i did tear up during some parts of the movie. but as most of you know, i cry at EVERYTHING. so this isn't really a reflection of movie quality. sorry, new line, for the first time in a long time, you disappointed. (sorry, dani! i really thought that i thought the movie was ok. until i didn't.) :(
2. royal india restaurant (http://www.royalindia.com/index.html) - pretty decent. i'm a sucker for a good indian buffet -- and now so are my students! :) i must admit that the lunch buffet selection was small compared to our last group excursion to jaipur (http://www.jaipurcuisineofindia.com/). that being said, what the restaurant did offer was pretty darn scrumptious. the naan (both garlic and regular) had a pleasant chewiness, the meats were nice and moist, and the sauces were flavorful (as melissa knows gail simmons likes to say) w/o being overwhelmingly weighted down by butter (which apparently many indian sauces tend to be).
3. la jolla beach (http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml) - too crowded. enough said. but FYI that i hate beaches. sand = dirt.
4. the first wives club at the old globe (http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=6950) - AMAZING. thanks to a work connection, jerry & teresa have been able to usher shows at the old globe -- a lovely and intimate venue situated w/in the confines of balboa park. i got the chance to sub one week and watch a performance of the broadway-bound musical, the first wives club. not only did we get great seats (only a few rows back!), but the show was absolutely AMAZING. it's been a while since i've seen a musical, but the voices were wonderful. some movies don't work out when turned into musicals (ahem, dirty dancing, ahem), but i had no complaints about this one. in fact, i think i might've liked it even more than the movie! bravo, bravo.
5. rancho family YMCA (http://www.rancho.ymca.org/english/) - RP's saving grace. this is one of the few places w/in walking distance of the fortress that is known as my brother's house. FYI that this area is WAY hilly and that this house has close-to-zero sprint reception. thank goodness for: a) internet, b) cable, and c) the local Y. i have to admit that i had reservations when teresa told me this was the local gym. jerry & i grew up in the projects, and i have absolutely heinous memories of the uber crowded flushing Y & the super annoying swim classes in the heated pool (despite a hot, red-headed swim instructor). that being said, i can't be w/o a gym, so i was thrilled when my reduced-fee membership (given my current financial status) finally got approved. even though this process required documentation of every penny to my name (what little there is! ok, ok, i'll stop.), it's worth it to pay only $15 a month for a pretty decent gym. i'll admit that Y's always seem to have way too many kids little running around them (FYI that i hate kids -- yes, yes, it's true). but the cardio/strength room has never been too crowded during my workout times, and i can easily get an hour (plus, even!) on the treadmill w/o interruption. while some of the instructors leave a lot to be desired (one of them took calls DURING class! another one was 10 minutes late, didn't have her sneakers on, & didn't think the participant who set up her step for her!) and the music is usually too fast (as an instructor myself, i must be critical!), i've had success w/one step instructor, a kickboxing class, a bootcamp class, and a zumba class. the last one is a recent addition to the repertoire, but the instructor is just so peppy that you can't resist wanting to get your hips moving. i can't wait to start volunteer teaching (first aid certification -- check!), but it looks like the schedule may not change till early october. bummer. well, fingers crossed that i can sub soon! also, i signed up for a potential Y running group. so hopefully that'll get me motivated for half-marathon training. woohoo!
6. point loma seafoods (http://www.pointlomaseafoods.com/) - super affordable and fresh seafood. part seafood purveyor, part seafood restaurant, this place offers delicious and fresh seafood at great prices. thanks to my brother's (continuing) generosity, i got to try a super simple yet yummy crab sandwich. literally, it was nothing more than chunks of fresh crabmeat & a bit of tartar sauce slapped in b/w two slices of sourdough bread. BUT BOY WAS IT GOOD. my SIL had the same thing, and we were both quite pleased. i thought it could've used slightly more salt, but she thought it was missing something else. my brother got a cod plate w/fries, but needed an extra order of sushi to get full. i think the fam was a bit underwhelmed (they're pretty picky), but i was perfectly happy w/my sammy. i do have to say that there were a bit too many pigeons (and babies) hanging around the indoor space for my tastes. sitting outside under the umbrellas would've been much preferred.
7. cupcakes squared (http://www.cupcakessquared.com/) - totally worth the trek. after staring longingly at their cupcake calendar, i was super excited when the fam suggested that we go out for a seafood and cupcake adventure. after a light seafood meal, a decadent cupcake is surely the best ending. while neither my brother nor SIL were planning to have any (pfft!), neither of them could resist after we walked into the shop. not only does this place have regular-sized cupcakes, but mini-sized cupcakes as well. and all in unique square shapes! (even now i'm annoyed at myself for not "getting it" sooner -- cupcakes squared, as in, cupcakes SQUARED. right? RIIIIIIIGHT. eeeeeeeeee-diot!!! *sigh*) while it was a bit annoying that they didn't have all their sunday flavors in mini version, they had a nice enough selection for us to choose from. and samples of the peanut butter berry (which totally tasted like a PB&J sandwich) and the not so red velvet (which was totally light brown and not red at all). we went w/the regular-sized lillikoi (jerry's pick), the regular-sized mocha squared (my pick), and a mini vanilla chai (which just happened to be available). flavor-wise, my brother & i really enjoyed the lillikoi frosting over the vanilla cupcake. teresa's not a fan (your loss, lady), but the ngai's really dig the passionfruit -- nice sweetness w/just enough tang. jerry doesn't like chocolate (which is ridiculous, if you ask me), so i pretty much inhaled the mocha squared on my own. a great coffee/chocolate blend. the mini cupcake totally tasted like a vanilla chai latte. overall, the fam enjoyed CS much more than sprinkles, particularly the cake to frosting ratio. (this kinda makes me sad, only b/c i really REALLY love sprinkles.) they find sprinkles frosting way too rich -- and think there's too much of it. i have to agree w/the latter point, but i definitely prefer the decadence of sprinkles frosting. i found CS frosting to be a bit too fluffy, a bit too whipped. i prefer buttercream to taste like BUTTERcream, not WHIPPED cream. cake-wise, it's a tie. both are nice and moist, w/CS cake being slightly lighter. that being said, i must admit that i do prefer the size & price of CS cupcakes. i'll inhale sprinkles cupcakes, but i'll inevitably feel gross after b/c they're just so big. plus, cupcakes aren't really meant to be stored, so it's no use trying to make the experience last over a few days. w/CS cupcakes, i can have just one and be satiated but not feel fat. always a plus.
8. SD farmers markets (http://www.sdfarmbureau.org/BuyLocal/Farmers-Markets.php) - YAY! thank goodness for family members who love food -- and shopping for food! if you're ever looking for us, we can be regularly spotted at Vons, Henry's, or one of many local farmers markets. the fam prefers poway, and i love seeing everyone & their dogs winding their way around the stalls. upon request, jerry picked me up a scottish egg and i devoured it quickly upon completion of my regular 2-hour saturday workout. not the most healthy thing i suppose (an egg wrapped in sausage meat and covered in breadcrumbs), but unique and filling nevertheless. we'll be getting started with a bi-weekly CSA box soon, so i'm excited to cook up some yummy veggies. i've been really into *themed* meals recently (linked to the never-ending stream of season premieres), and my brother & i did a really nice job w/gossip girl -- new york strip w/blue cheese butter, roasted beets w/olive oil & sea salt, and sauteed beet greens. DEE-LISH. i baked up a pear upside down cake, though the two hot tamales recipe may need a bit of tweaking. next up is grey's anatomy, which may require a bit more thought. we'll be attempting a chicken with figs in ras-el-hanout and couscous recipe (c/o epicurious.com) this week, and possibly some glazed/roasted figs for dessert. fingers crossed!
9. seeing as this blog entry has already taken away two hours of my precious sunday, i'll end w/a quick list of final thoughts. royal pains - oh how i can't believe i need to wait till next summer to see you again. GLEE - great first episode, great second episode, mediocre third episode (meaning: get your act together before you lose your audience). eragon - great story that i'm sad i don't have time for every single night. wired - so engaging, so interesting, i'm so glad you only come monthly or else i'd never get any work done. FB/gchat - thanks for keeping me sane. friends of all sorts - i miss you and i'm happy that you're always willing to call me back on my home phone b/c of really bad sprint reception in the boonies.
for now, i bid you all adieu! btw, we have stairs in the house and i *totally* started singing the "so long, farewell" song from the sound of music. (eri, i know you hate it, but i was good -- totally karaoke-worthy.)
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