Author Archives: anthonydonovan2014

Bijou (45 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Several hours after this week’s challenge, I awoke in a darkened room feeling the fire of a thousand volcanoes rumbling in my chest.  As I chewed a fist full of Tums & went back to bed, I said in my best Madonna voice “Absolutely no regrets”.  Obviously, this serves as proof that I don’t eat 14 pounds of fried butter on the regular (So yes, Dr. F, you can rest easy).  This can only mean this week’s challenge is French food!  Bijou in La Jolla is the Sister restaurant of a place I covered earlier this year on the blog, the fabulous Addison Del Mar. Expectations were high as my friends and I arrived in our fanciest eatin’ pants.

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Craig-Jackie’s lucky and mysterious other half, picture unavailable

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Jackie-Awesome Soprano, fellow East Coast transplant, Has a Vegas story or two

After this dinner we started to think that French people may actually be too lethargic to move when someone starts playing a Jerry Lewis film and that's how that whole rumor got started.

After this dinner we started to think that French people may actually be too lethargic to move when someone starts playing a Jerry Lewis film and that’s how that whole rumor got started.

Bijou is luxurious and elegant without feeling super stuffy.  The staff was very attentive and knowledgeable.  They made us feel very at home and did a bang up job at keep a straight face while we butchered every word on the menu.   Fortunately booze transcends all language barriers, so we started from there.  Aimee had the Peche Champgane Cocktail, which she said was great.  Chris ordered a Blue Mint. Chris and Amy B both had a “starter” cocktail (Pear Vodka, Germain, Lemon Juice, Grapefruit juice and basil).  They said both cocktails were flawless.  Amy B also had Aligote for her wine.  Harry got the Kentucky Bees Knees.  Amy J had the “Yellow Jacket”.  They both enjoyed their drinks.  High marks to the bar.

The chef was feeling generous (or bored.  Either way, Yay.) that night so he sent out a few bites for the table to enjoy.  The first was the Oeufs Mayonnaise.  Basically the French version of a deviled egg.  I’m not a fan of eggs, so I gave mine to Aimee.  She said it was good.  Nothing to scream about but a really good deviled egg.  The second bite he sent out was a beautiful pork belly.  I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “creamy” to describe meat before but it just melted in your mouth.  Really spectacular.  A perfect bite of pork.

For starters, Aimee ordered the Salmon Rillettes (with toasted baguette, radish and onions).  She said the dish was incredibly rich and sized for sharing.  The radish and cornichons really added great crunch and broke up some of the fattiness of the fish.  Chris and Craig both got the Escargot en Croute.  Craig said the dish was well prepared.  Jackie started with the French Onion Soup.  She said it was awesomely cheesey and she loved the browned part of the cheese on top.  I ordered the steak tartare.  I’d had it before but had forgotten that it came with a raw egg yolk on top. While I almost always bend to my ridiculous food fussings, I decided it was time to man up (er, “boy” up?) and try it.  I quickly cut up the egg yolk and just told myself it was a sauce.  It added a great richness to an already lovely pile of raw steak.  I love a good tartare.  true story.  Still not eating eggs though because gross and no.

Like all things I don't like, I quickly sliced it up and ate it before I even had time to think about what was happening.

Like all things I don’t like, I quickly sliced it up and ate it before I even had time to think about what was happening.

For our main dishes,  Aimee got the Steak Frites.  She called it easily one of the top 5 best steaks she’s had in her life.  She loved the compound butter on top that added great saltiness.   Chris had the Coq au Vin.  While he said it was good, it struggled to meet expectations after our experience at Addison.  Harry ordered the Loup de Mer (Ratatouille).  He said it was pretty much the second best meal he’s had this year (behind Addison, of course.  Have I mentioned how hardcore we ride that place’s jock?).  Rich, savory and buttery.  He loved it all.  The Amys split the Gnocchi al la Parisienne, Mushroom Ragout and Haricots Verts.  Amy B found the gnocchi to be delicious with an usual texture (Bijou makes its gnocchi from flour rather than the traditional potato.  Super light!)  and a great buttery sauce.  She also gave high marks to the Haricots Verts (green beans) and mushrooms.  Amy J also found the gnocchi to be a flavorful highlight.  Craig ordered the Veal Pailiard (with arugula, tomatoes and mushrooms)  Jackie and I both ordered the Lobster Gratin.  The dish was incredibly rich and flavorful.  Warm and savory with huge, tender and delicately sweet chunks of lobster with mushrooms and various veggies that married perfectly with the rest of the dish.

I printed this picture out so instead of wasting both our time with a list of foods I shouldn't be eating, my Doctor can simply point to it.

I printed this picture out so instead of wasting both our time with a list of foods I shouldn’t be eating, my Doctor can simply point to it.

Dinner in a French restaurant without having dessert almost seems stupid.  So we ordered just about everything on the dessert menu.  Hilariously the only thing we didn’t order was the creme brulee which I don’t doubt was awesome but stomach real estate for all involved was at a premium by now.  We were looking to break some new ground and we did with one particular dessert, which I’ll get to in a moment.   Other dishes served were Brown butter Clafoutis.  Macarons Du Jour.  Pot de Creme.  Fruit tart with Lemon Curd.  The standouts according to most diners were the Clafoutis & Pot de Creme.  All of the desserts were fabulous but one simply rose above to a whole different level altogether.  The “Paris Brest” is a light pastry with a hole in the center (Think a croissant shaped donut.  Hey, what a novel idea!) in the center they pipe in almond cream, sprinkle toasted almonds on top and drizzle with caramel.  It’s the best dessert I’ve had on this entire challenge.  It’s also only $10 and I dream of it fortnightly.  Life changing-level fat kid bliss.

As gay man, here is a pair of brests I would happily throw my face between forever.

As gay man, here is a pair of brests I would happily throw my face between forever.

The final verdict from me on Bijou is a positive one.  While others with me felt there are better places to go to drop that kind of money on dinner, I really liked what they had to offer.  Addison is not special occasion dining, it’s once a year dining but I feel that Bijou is a good special occasion place, especially if you love French food.  You’ll drop a pretty penny but it’s accessibly priced for upscale dining and you will get an expertly crafted, elegant and tasty dining experience.

Further reading

To see all of the photos from this dinner, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

Tam’s (44 of 52) (CLOSED)

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One of the things I’ve developed a great fondness for in the last few years is Thai food.  I first tried it when I was dating a guy some years ago who loved Thai food.  In the years since I’ve been unable to shake neither my love of spicy basil noodles nor younger guys who are completely wrong for me.  Fortunately, tonight I was only revisiting one of these life choices.  Tam’s is the first restaurant in this challenge that is literally walking distance from my home.  I still drove because lazy, but I totally could have walked there if I was so inclined.  Joining me was a small but dedicated group:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

We stood on the stage for this pic. Does that sound odd? You ain't seen nothing yet...

We stood on the stage for this pic. Does that sound odd? You ain’t seen nothing yet…

Located in a tiny strip mall in Normal Heights, Tam’s defies expectations.  Unless you were expecting to walking into an empty restaurant in November with Valentine’s decorations up, Christmas lights, Disco ball lights, a stage and a tiny Asian lady asking what you’d like her to make for you, in which case you nailed this place.  Tam is delightful.  She’s such a character I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out she’s an actress playing the part of an old lady from a Kung Fu movie who has a Katana in her broom closet and the secrets of a thousand-year-old empire hidden in her spice rack.  I’m actually still unsure those last two aren’t true.  She speaks broken English, she’s sassy and she cooks all the food.  It’s very much like we were guests in her home and she treated us as such.

She bulldozed us into recommended we start with a curried potato egg roll with pumpkin sauce.  Not wanting to offend our hostess, we smiled politely and sipped our bottled water (which she brought us free of charge and insisted twice we weren’t drinking fast enough)  Turns out Tam knows what the hell she’s talking about and can throw down in the kitchen.  These were a massive hit with the table.  Crispy, rich with just the right amount of heat.  Easily worth coming back for alone.  This whole night just got as awesome as it was bizarre.

Asian fusion? Indian-inspired? Call it what you will, it was delicious.

Asian fusion? Indian-inspired? Call it what you will, it was delicious.

It wasn’t long before we had collectively finished enough of our water that we were allowed to order our dinners.  Tam was a bit overwhelmed with the amount of food but seemed up to the challenge of feeding this table full of hungry Americans (Look, for all I know she could also be a citizen but it’s way funnier to paint her as the near-offensive film cliche so just go with me on this.  Did I mention we love her?)

Aimee had the Amazingly Rich Pork (Batter fried pork loin with coconut ginger sauce and a Yellow Curry paste).  She said it lived up to it’s name.  Impressively moist for such a thin cut of pork.  Aimee called the Yellow curry a nice touch.  Harry ordered the Broccoli Stir Fry with Shrimp (with carrots and onion in oyster sauce).  He said it was awesome and tasted like Tom Yam Soup.  Amy got the Veggie Fried Rice.  She found the dish surprisingly light with very fresh vegetables and generously portioned.

Durwood had the Orange Chicken Pad Thai (yeah, that’s a thing) and Lard Nar with chicken (Rice noodles stir fried with garlic and broccoli).  He thought the pad thai was wildly innovative and delicious.  He called the dish “Some Top Chef-type shit”.  He also loved the flavor of the Lard Nar, calling it “Home made with a touch of love”.  I tried each one of these dishes and they were fabulous.  Loaded with flavor and super tasty.

Then something went wrong.  Very very wrong.  So wrong that I’m left confused and befuddled.

I ordered the Spicy Thai Curry Noodle (with snow peas, jalapeno, mushrooms, basil and curry powder).  My food came out last.  I was excited because, remember, I love Thai food and the evening had such promise and got off to such a strong start.  This dish…  It was awful.  It was absolutely flavorless.  It tasted like boiled pasta noodles with boiled vegetables.  Also a shit ton of curry powder which only added heat.  There had to have been a sauce she just forgot to add.  There HAD TO HAVE BEEN.  Everything else had been so good and so flavorful.  I poured some of my left over egg roll sauce all over my dinner and it barely helped.  I couldn’t get through it.  I was so upset.  Also confused but mostly upset that I was going to have to write about this dish during what had otherwise been a stellar evening of food.

We didn’t order dessert.  We didn’t have to because Tam brought us donuts.  I don’t mean she served us a house dessert based on donuts.  I mean an actual pink box of donuts from a nearby bakery.  Again, free of charge.  This made the evening even more awesomely strange.  I was pretty sure at that point Durwood was going to propose to her.

Yeah, totally not kidding about the donuts.

Yeah, totally not kidding about the donuts.

As for my dinner snafu, I have to chalk it up to a swing and a miss.  My dish was a mistake.  A smudge on an otherwise perfect record.  I am determined to return to Tam’s for another go at dinner.  She was too nice.  Too talented a cook and again, SHE GAVE US A DOZEN F**KING DONUTS.  I MEAN COME ON! I’m going back and you should go there too.

Further reading

To see all the photos from this meal be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram

 

Little Tokyo (43 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Right now, in 2014, there are actual people who are still afraid of sushi.  My Mom is one of them.  You could even be related to one of them.  You could even be one of them and need smelling salts whenever you read about Aimee ordering Octopus on this blog.  I am here to break it down for you as it relates to this week’s restaurant.  Everything you need to know about what sushi is and isn’t and can be found on this clearly from the 90’s website.  I want you to read it before we continue.  Go ahead.  I’ll wait…

My love of sushi is well documented so I need little to no prodding (maybe a little prodding to get my fat ass loaded back into the car when I try to go home after eating 17 rolls) to go get some sushi.  When Little Tokyo was recommended to me, adding it to the list seemed like a no-brainer.  Joining me was a small but dedicated bunch.

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Little Tokyo 1

Smile pretty! Everyone except Dylan, who finds selfies indulgent.

 

Located in the San Diego neighborhood of Carmel Mountain, Little Tokyo is quiet (very quiet this particular night) strip mall sushi place with charm and an affordable, if standard, menu.

Kate ordered the Crunchy Roll, which she says was good and right in line with white person sushi (or Gaijin as the Japaneses call it!).  Kate’s baseline gauge of the quality of any sushi place is its Spicy Tuna roll, which she also ordered and said was excellent. Finally she got an order of Yellowtail Nigiri, which she said was well cut and fresh.  Sebastian was a tough sell on Little Tokyo’s Orange Chicken with white rice due to the multi-colored sesame seed garnish but Kate bravely picked them out and Sebastian did put a dent in his dinner, which something I understand not all parents have as much luck with.  Dylan was less picky about her dinner as Kate’s boobs did not have sesame seeds on them.  This time.

Durwood had the Devil Roll (Shrimp Tempura, Crab, Avocado topped with Eel and Eel sauce).  He called it “Everything I love about sushi in one roll!” So well done.  He also had the Sesame Chicken Plate, which he called simple with good, tangy flavor.  He’s happy to see things like this available on the menu.  Harry had a Kirin Ichiban beer to drink along with Sunomono Salad, which he said was lacking in it’s customary wakame seaweed but was otherwise good.   Harry also had the Albacore Sashimi, which he said was “like buttah”.

I ordered Shrimp Tempura (*my* go-to sushi place appetizer).  God bless the Japanese and their penchant for lightly battering and frying anything at all.  There’s not much variant in how to prepare shrimp tempura but most of the menu at Little Tokyo is pretty standard fare.  It did the job it was meant to do.  Not the greatest I’ve had but certainly not bad either.  Competently made.

Little Tokyo 2

Like a warm hug from an old friend, so is the sight of fried seafood on a doily for me.

Up next was a spicy crab and tuna roll which tasted very fresh and was a really decent size for what I ordered.  I quite enjoyed it.

Little Tokyo 3

Random fact about me: I NEVER eat the end piece of sushi first or last. Sorry for the twitching, all my readers suffering from OCD.

Finally, I had a Surimi roll, which was tasty but HUGE.  Seriously, this was a hockey puck of sushi.  perhaps the most flagrant bastardization of Japanese sushi is America’s need to supersize everything.  It’s intended as finger food and while it was tasty enough, I’m not a big fan of sushi that I can’t eat in a single bite.  I don’t like to hold conversations while I’m trying to deep throat tuna.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

Enjoy your sushi loaf.

The overall review of Little Tokyo is satisfying but nothing Earth shattering.  The atmosphere is quiet, the place is clean and the staff was very nice.  It’s also very affordable.  It did its job for me and while I could get very much the same type of food closer to home, I wouldn’t make it a point to drive up to Little Tokyo.  But if you are located near by and looking for some decent sushi, this is your place.

Further reading: http://www.yelp.com/biz/little-tokyo-san-diego

To see all of the pictures from this restaurant, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

 

Waypoint Public (42 of 52) (CLOSED)

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A quickly rising neighborhood of San Diego is one I hold near and dear to my heart; North Park.  It can be hipsterific (even the name is ironic.  It’s South of me and it’s almost impossible to find a place to park).  Back in the day, North Park was the place to go for dive bars, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, hole-in-the-wall adult book stores and some well-stocked thrift shops.  In recent years, they’ve cleaned up their act and several hip, upscale eateries have surfaced all over the neighborhood.  I’ve covered a few on this here blog already so basically I’m running out of things to say about North Park.  Waypoint Public, the brainshild of Executive Chef Amanda Baumgarten, is one of the newest additions to the ‘hood and I was ready to see what they had to offer with my trusty companions.

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

30 beers on tap? I nominate these men as tribute.

30 beers on tap? I nominate these men as tribute.

The design of Waypoint Public is definitely bar-centric, with just a few picnic tables in the open-air space.  There’s even a cute little play area for kids (or, I would imagine, drunk adults.  Don’t quote me on that.)  The vibe is cool and while it was pretty crowded, it wasn’t so loud I couldn’t hear anything.  As I am not a beer fan, Chris, Harry and even Aimee decided to take the hit for me and ordered themselves some drinks.

Aimee ordered an Anthem Pear Cider, which she described as “very yummy”.  Having tasted it myself, I can completely get behind that assessment.  The 1st beer Chris ordered as the Haandbakk; a Flanders oud Bruin from HaandBryggeriet.  He tried to pronounce it and injured his tongue.  Not in a dissimilar way to how I injured my tongue when I tasted it.  Gross.  He, on the other hand, quite enjoyed it.  Harry had a Midnight Sun Beserker.  He said it was really tasty.  Heavy dark and nice.  It also did its job with the alcohol.

For starters, I was told by someone who’s opinions I trust on such matters to order the pretzel.  It comes out hot, fresh and covered in salt.  It’s also served with 2 different types of mustard; a sweeter one and and one with peppercorns.  The peppercorn kind was the best.  The pretzel, however, wasn’t quite the showstopper I was hoping for.  The one I had a South Paw Social Club a few months back was far superior.  It was still good, though.

Hot, fresh and terrified to see me. Same way I likes my dates!

Hot, fresh and terrified to see me. Same way I likes my dates!

For main courses, Chris ordered the Shrimp and Chorizo Arrabiata with House Made Tagliatelle and Spicy Tomato Sauce.  He was not particularly in love with this dish.  While the flavors were on point, he felt a $16 plate should come with more than just the 3 shrimp he found on his plate.  I thought it had a really good flavor and I’m a sucker for fresh pasta.   Aimee had the Mussels with Pork Belly with Kale, Tomato Sherry Broth & Grilled Bread.  She says this dish was AMAZING.  Perfectly steamed mussels with broth and bread delicious enough to make a return visit.  She also quite enjoyed the service (which I have to say was excellent).  Our server saw she had eaten most of her bread and offered to bring her more.  Nice touch.

Harry ordered the cassoulet, a classic french dish with duck, pork skin, haricots verts and beans.   He deemed it nothing short of incredible.  A flawless blend of simple favors that came together perfectly.  Chris was also raving about it.  He said it Cassoulet encompasses everything there is to love about French food when done right and Waypoint Public did it right.  I ordered the Crab Pot Pie with red potatoes, assorted veg  and crispy pork skins baked inside a flaky crust.  It was rich, warm and tasty but the number one flavor note I came away with from the dish was salty.  It was very salty but still enjoyable.

Added charm: None of the plates match.

Added charm: None of the plates match.

We also enjoyed some side dishes with our meals.  Chris and Harry had the sauteed baby broccoli, which they said was decent enough but nothing Earth shattering.  I ordered a side of Jalapeno Mac & Cheese, which was rich, tasty and delightfully zesty with a nice heat to it but nothing compared to Aimee’s side order, which I have to take a moment here to focus on because it one of my favorite parts of this meal:  The Fries.  Sounds strange, I know but i took one of Aimee’s.  Then another.  Then another.  I then stopped our server to order a plate of my own.

You guys, these are THE BEST FRIES IN SAN DIEGO.  I have lived and eaten here for more than 16 years and I totally stand by that statement.  I mentioned in my review of Alchemy how particular I am with my fries.  I love thick cut steak fries but these were on another level.  Thick cut, well seasoned and floppy.  Yeah, I said floppy.  I love floppy fries.  These were everything I love about french fries and the whole batch of them were like that.  I’m in love.

These french fries are the Prince guitar solo of food. (That means they were my favorite thing)

These french fries are the Prince guitar solo of food. (That means they were my favorite thing)

In closing, our experience at Waypoint Public was a really good one, particularly for our beer lovers in the group.  Chris mentioned that the beer list alone was reason enough to return.  I would happily accompany him just for those fries.  Maybe some Cassoulet too but fries.  Seriously, I dream about them.

Further reading: http://www.waypointpublic.com/

To see all of the pictures from this dinner, be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

Nine Ten (41 of 52)

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La Jolla, California (the neighborhood I work in) is known for being a lavish beach side community where the wealthiest of San Diegans enjoy fine dining, art museums and occasionally perform charitable acts of handing a dollar to any lost middle class folks they see wandering the sidewalks.  The restaurants are known for being equally swanky and unapproachable but this week’s restaurant, Nine Ten, is here to dispell that image.  Joining me for this upscale dining romp are the following friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Samantha-My co-star in “Five Course Love”, Aubrey Award winner, A sometimes Amish Jew

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

Party of 6, here at 7 to see if Nine Ten is the one.

We found the atmosphere at Nine Ten to be surprisingly chill and welcoming.  They couldn’t seat our party in the regular dining room so they instead gave us our own back patio table, complete with crisp night air, the gentle sound of the ocean and a busser that looked like 80’s TV icon, my boyhood Daddy fantasty and Father of hot-but-douchey pop misogynists, Alan Thicke.  Throw in a delightful singing server named Amy and it made for one magical evening.

For pre-dinner cocktails, Chris ordered the “Ryes an Fall” (Rye whiskey, cognac, Peche de Vigne & Lemon), which he seemed to enjoy.  Harry had a Saserac, which he said was tasty.  He and I also both had the “Endless Summer” (Sailor Jerry, Apricot Brandy, Ginger Beer & lemon) It’s like adult lemonade with alcohol.  Anything that takes my childhood and mixes it with copious amounts of liquor that doesn’t involve an abusive home life, I’m all for!  Samantha got a traditional martini with blue cheese stuffed olives.  She was a huge fan of this drink and particularly the blue cheese.

For our appetizers, Aimee had the house version of Chicken & Dumplings.  She said it was delicious with a great both.   Chris got the Shrimp Toast at the bar, which he said was not amazing but was a beautiful presentation.  He also had the House Cured Smoked Salmon (cucumber, apple, baby potatoes, fennel, radish, rye bread, charred dill oil & whey crème fraiche vinaigrette) which he called a “great starter”.  Harry had the Lamb Tartare (black garlic, orange chili oil, pickled onion, cured egg yolk & masa cracker).  He really enjoyed the pine nut flavors and delightfully delayed kick on the finish.

Samantha got the Jonah Crab Salad (pickled avocado, lobster knuckle, blood oranges, pickled ramps bulbs, herbs, buttermilk dressing and hot sauce powder) She had no idea there was even such a things a lobster knuckles but said the Buttermilk dressing was SO good with the fresh crab meat.  Amy had the Heirloom Tomato Salad (Chino farms tomatoes, Spring onions, Shaved Turnips, Watermelon Radish, Smoked Feta, Mustard Frill, Purple Cress, African Basil Vinegar & Vadouvan Oil).  She loved the amount of flavor in such a simple salad.   I had the Maine Lobster & Hiutlacoche Agnolotti (Chino Farms corn, lobster mushrooms, herbs).  It was pretty damned fantastic.  As one always ready to rub my native-New Englander bragging rights in anyone’s face, the lobster was on point.  Fresh, tender, delicately sweet.  The Corn and pasta were amazing together.  Really solid opener.  Would go back for this alone.

Nine ten 1

I don’t know which cave man got the idea to crack open a giant sea bug one day and eat it’s innards but, boy am I ever glad they did.

For our main courses, Aimee ordered the Pumpkin Seed Crusted Lamb Loin (torpedo onions, roasted acorn squash, kale, pomegranate seeds, lamb pancetta, squash puree & lamb pomegranate jus).  She called this the best lamb dish she’s had in this entire challenge.  She said it was perfectly executed with an outstanding sauce.  Amy had the Chino Farms Butternut Squash rice Grits (roasted mushrooms, acorn squash, pickled squash, pumpkin seed crumble, brussel sprouts & herbs)  She called them amazing with great flavors and textures.  She appreciated the fact that the vegetarian dishes offered were all well thought out and not just “Non-meat stuff”.

The head chef at Nine Ten, Jason Knibb, was offering something special the night we were there.  He hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica and cut up a whole goat (not, like, at our table.  My God.  Could you imagine?)  Harry felt a need to jump on this opportunity, for science.  It was his first time having goat and he really liked it.  It included a mushroom cream which he thought was divine.  I don’t have any more details about the dish because it’s not on the menu but I did want to include it because it speaks to the skill set of a very talented chef.

Chris had the Hay Smoked Duck (Not be confused with Hey!  Smoked Duck!) with roasted asian pears, anson mills farro, huckleberries, duck egg sabayon, puffed wild rice & duck jus.  He said it could actually be the best duck he’s ever had.  As Chris taught me “If pigs could fly, they’d taste like duck”.  It’s a nice metaphor best taken at face value because the mechanics of such an image are really upsetting.  Samantha and I both ordered the Braised Prime Beef Short Rib (roasted beets, baby artichokes, brussels sprouts, savoy cabbage puree, fried brussells sprout leaves & horseradish beet vinaigrette).  Samantha thought they were amazing.  Fork tender with a great sauce.  She also enjoyed the crispyness of the brussells sprouts.  As for me, I thought they were another hit at what had so far been a pretty impressive meal.  Rich, tender and full of flavor.  Chef Jason for sure knows how to cook some meat.  Delicious!

Nine Ten 2

I tried to do some tie-in joke with the In Living Color sketch about that Jamaican family who each had a dozen jobs but every single version had me coming off as a huge racist, so instead I offer you this: Hey! Meat! Tasty!

With such a great meal so far, there was no way we were skipping dessert.  Aimee had the Maple & Apple Butter Cream Puff (white cheddar crumb, local apples, maple & hay ice cream).  She loved its beautiful texture and thought the cheese crumb was great.  She mentioned that the ice cream wasn’t really even necessary for this dessert, one of the best composed we’ve tasted.  Chris ordered the Vanilla Flan Tart (Caramelized Hazelnut, poached pear & Hazelnut whipped cream).  I got the 1/2 Baked Chocolate Cake (with caramel sauce and Vanilla ice Cream) It was sweet, ooey, gooey, warm and chocolatey.  The smartest aspect of this dish is that it’s served in a cup about the size of a coffee cup: the perfect amount.  A great, decadent cap off to a great meal.

Nine Ten 3

Half baked chocolate cake. Had I known doing a half assed job at something could lead to such amazing results, I would’ve exerted far less effort in my life.

So in closing, we really had a great night.  Nine Ten offers upscale fine dining tastes with a friendly attitude.  This place is certainly on the more high-end price wise but it wasn’t so expensive that you would only eat there once a year.  Everyone at the table would go back (that includes the most important opinion: mine!)

Further reading: http://www.nine-ten.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

West Coast Tavern (40 of 52)

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A great thing about setting myself on this challenge (and there have been many) has been discovering places that I not only have never eaten at before but many that I would have otherwise never even heard of because they’re so hidden.  Such is the case with this week’s restaurant.  Located in the trendy area of North Park is the Birch North Park Theatre.  It’s a cool place that I’ve been lucky enough to sing on the stage of.  I love it because it looks like the Muppet Show Theatre.  In the lobby of the birch theatre is a bar and restaurant: West Coast Tavern; this week’s restaurant.  Joining me for a fun night of food and drink were the following:

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Brad-Rocky Horror performer, Fluent in most nerdisms, Still thinks Miley Cyrus is sexy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Elisa-Singer, my Hebrew homegirl, Intense stare

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Representin' for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

Representin’ for the west coast. Only in Cali where we riot not rally.

First thing you should know about West Coast Tavern:  It’s LOUD.  It was pretty packed but the music and atmosphere is way more bar/night club than restaurant.  I felt like my Grandmother making everyone repeat everything they said because they weren’t nose to nose with me.  A positive note to counter would be the staff.  They were terrific.  They were able to get us in (they don’t take reservations) with minimal hassle and the wait staff were very knowledgeable about food and drink…  and speaking of drinks…

Tomy ordered the Mommy Dearest (Skyy Vodka, Basil, Strawberries and Lime).  He deemed it Alright but nothing special, having ordered it mostly for the name because gay.  Amy J got the Smoke and Honey (A bourbon concoction of some sort).  She gave the drink a “10” and loved that our server asked if she was familiar with the type of drink she was ordering.  Harry had the Cucumber Basil Gimlet (Hendrick’s Gin, Cucumber, Basil, Lime & Simple Syrup).  He found it nice, refreshing and strong.  For his 2nd drink, Harry ordered the Old Fashioned with Bulliet Rye, as did Amy B and Chris (Templeton Rye for him).  It was a winner for Harry and Chris seemed pleased with it but for Amy, she felt it was decent but not the best available in North Park.  Brad ordered a Mezcal Mule (Xicaru Mezcal, Lime, Ginger Beer & Bitters) He felt it needed more smokiness but thought it was a great cocktail.   Ky had a Strawberry Margarita.  She felt it was alright but very effective.  Apparently this place has a heavy pour.  We are okay with this.

For appetizers, Durwood ordered the Hot Wings.  He called them pretty standard but good.  Harry got the Oysters on the half Shell, which he said were exactly what he wanted.  Brad had the Marrow (Bone marrow with grilled Scallions, Ranch, Pickled Radish, fried Onions and a warm baguette).  The dish reminded him of Escargot in texture and flavor, which he enjoyed.  Brad likened it to eating “Beef butter”.  Gross.  Amy J ordered the grilled asparagus, which was well done if unremarkable.  Ky and I both ordered the bowl of Chipotle Bacon Fondue with bread and veggies.  Ky found it a bit greasy but I really enjoyed it.  Hearty, salty and thick.  The consistency of it was much closer to pub cheese than fondue but it was super tasty.

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl...?

Now, how to recreate this dish at home in a bacon bowl…?

For main courses, Ky and Tomy both ordered the Spinach and Chicken Mac n’ Cheese (with Goat Cheese, Bacon and Bread Crumbs) .  They both mostly enjoyed it but Tomy did mention the cheese used was a bit stank and bitter, like many of my ex’s.  Ky said it was good and enjoyed the sharpness of the cheese.  Tomy also advised not getting the version offered without chicken as the protein seemed to anchor the dish flavor-wise.  Brad got the Pork Belly & Waffles (with Bourbon infused Maple Syrup, Garlic Butter & Bacon).  He said it was really good, particularly the syrup, which was not too sweet.  The pork was well cooked and the waffle combined sweet and savory flavors.  He deemed the bacon unnecessary.  Amy B & Elisa both had Veggie Sliders (Veggie patties with chipotle Aioli, Tomato & Arugula).  Amy said they were good.  Elisa found the patties to be thick, moist and crispy with a really enjoyable Aoili.

Durwood also ordered the Chicken and Spinach Mac n’ Cheese.  He enjoyed it but the spinach seemed more like a garnish than an ingredient to him.  Amy J ordered the Al Fresco Veggie Flatbread (with White Bean Hummus, grilled red Onions, Tomatoes,  Feta Cheese & Basil).  She found this to be really uninteresting, as though the item were added to the menu as nothing more than an afterthought.  Both of our Amys found West Coast Tavern’s menu  to be surprisingly veggie un-friendly.  Harry got the same Marrow (appetizer that Brad ordered) for his entree and he loved it for some reason.  I had the Angus Beef Sliders (with Cheddar Cheese, caramelized Onions, Garlic Aioli, Lettuce and  Tomato).  As Elisa mentioned with her sliders, these were actually way more food than they looked.  They were well cooked and very flavorful.  The accompanying fries were also great with the dipping sauces available (the best being a very good garlic aioli).

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I'm there.

Any opportunity to double-fist burgers and I’m there.

The dessert menu was small but we decided to sample the Pistachio Bread Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel.  This was a smash hit at the table, with everyone pretty much raving about it.  I myself am not a huge fan of pistachio but even I have to say, this was really tasty.  Warm, melty, nutty and rich.  Great dessert.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Melty, gooey, moist and a slew of other filthy-not-filthy adjectives can be used to describe this dish.

Overall the experience of West Coast Tavern was a mixed one.  The drinks were well received and most of us enjoyed the food.  I had a really great dinner but the atmosphere was totally not conducive to dining.  Others found it to be forgettable.  With so many new places springing up all over North Park, this place has some serious stepping up to do to keep up with the serious competition.  As for me, I would love to eat there again but I would make a point to not do it on a busy Friday night.  But for lunch or even brunch (which they do offer), I would happily pop in again.

Further reading: http://westcoasttavern.com/

To see all of the pictures from this meal be sure to follow theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!

 

Mona Lisa (39 of 52)

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I grew up in an Italian American household.  That sounds so pretentious.  Like my parents were immigrants who looked like extras from a movie about the cold war (For the record, they aren’t).  Rhode Island was called “Little Italy” by many due to it’s large Italian population and surplus of gold chains and hair gel.  A number of family restaurants have been there for generations and my favorite one growing up was Marcello’s in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Old world charm, amazing classic style Italian food and best of all, on a busy Friday night, my family could show up unannounced and be instantly led past a line full of people waiting to our table.  How cool is that?!  Years later, Marcello’s has long since closed and the only clout I have is when the cashier at McDonald’s smiles at me and says “See ya tomorrow, Andy!” but I digress.  I have great memories of a time long since gone.

or is it?

Mona Lisa, located in a place actually called  Little Italy, is an old school Italian restaurant.  When I say “old school”, I mean dark 70’s wood paneling, romantic paintings on the walls and opera playing on the loud speakers.  At least 4 more square inches of chest hair sprung up on me the moment I crossed the threshold.  While dinner at a family-style Italian restaurant back in the day meant I ate with my family, today I embark on this culinary journey with the chosen family:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Dylan-The newest addition, the 2014 model.  A Kate & Joe production.

Jason-Rocky Horror performer, 75th level-coffee snob, token minority

Joe “Bish”-Computer wunderkind, Husband of Kate, a tall drink of water

Kate-Costume designer, Comedian, Once starred in a church rap video

Ky-Rocky Horror performer, Disneyland enthusiast, Roommate of Brad

Sebastian-The coolest kid in Kindergarten.  A Kate & Joe production.

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

Dine with us. We'll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

Dine with us. We’ll figure out together what, precisely, is a-matta-you.

I really can’t talk about Mona Lisa without talking about the deli right next to it, owned by the same folks.  My boss was very enthusiastic about me hitting this up and after one quick walk through, it was easy to see why.  The place is full of all sorts of cool stuff.  Amy was a particular fan of the fact that they sold drums of cannoli cream.  I was shocked to discover a type of pasta I’ve never seen outside of Rhode Island is sold there.  It reminded me of delis in New York. which I love.  I also hear they make some killer sandwiches there so a trip back for lunch may need to be a thing.

We started off with beverages.  I had a real Italian vanilla cream soda with Torani syrup and actual cream.  It was a different texture but super good and sweet.  When they brought my house salad before dinner was when I knew this place was legit.  Oil and vinegar-based dressing.  This place tastes like home.  Very nostalgic.  At this point I was very excited to see how our main courses would fare.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it's damn delicious.

I know it looks like used dish water with extra foam whip but trust me, it’s damn delicious.

Aimee had the Gnocchi alla Vodka with meatballs.  Her dish was preceeded by a minestrone soup that she described as “meh” and mentioned that the broccoli in the soup looked and tasted a bit tortured.  The Gnocchi, on the other hand, was a home run for Aimee.  She said it was perfect, light and pillow-y dumplings with a really nice sauce.  The meatball she ordered with it was very flavorful.  Tomy ordered the Chicken Parmgiana with Canadian bacon and minestrone.  He, like Aimee, was not in love with the minestrone and said it needed some pasta in it.  He found is his main dish to be good but not spectacular.  He also made mention of the food being ridiculously large (it’s true, these plates are sized for sharing).  He did however love the cheesy garlic bread that he and Ky shared.

Amy got the Lasagna Marinara with a bowl of minestrone.  She felt the minestrone was solid with good spice.  She found the lasagna to be very good but nothing mind blowing.  She enjoyed the use of quality cheese and sauce in the lasagna.  The whole thing gave her a very comfort-food style vibe and reminded her of similar places she visited as a kid, much like I did.   Durwood ordered the Pesto alla Genovese with chicken with a Caesar salad.  He said his salad was really good; lightly tossed in just the right amount of dressing with quality cheese.  He gave another solid nod to the garlic bread.  While Durwood prefers a more traditional pesto, he really enjoyed his pasta.

Kate got the Chicken Marsala.   She found it to be good but nothing spectacular with a really good portion size.  Her most specific criticism was for the lack of flavor from the onions, which traditionally provide a sweet note.  She suspects they may not have been reduced enough.  Joe and Sebastian shared the Pepperoni Pizza.  This was a surprising hit.  As pizza is usually served as an after thought at restaurants that don’t specialize in it, this pizza was delicious, according to Joe.  He said it was so flavorful, it almost didn’t need sauce.  Ky had the cheese ravioli with meatballs.  She really enjoyed it, praising it’s great spices, cheeses and sauce.  Having tried it, I can honestly say it was my favorite thing at the table.  Super delicious.

Jason ordered the Lingiune with Clam Sauce.  He loved it, saying the dish was beautifully made and had a generous number of clams.  Furthermore, he loved the fact that the clams weren’t sandy, which I took to mean they must instead be Danny.  I had the Chicken Parmigiana.  One thing I found to be a bit odd was the accompanying linguine was served on a separate plate.  I’m used to the meat being served on top (Pause for gay joke).  The cut of chicken was good.  Great breading and moist chicken with a solid marinara sauce.  As Tomy had mentioned, it was huge but very satisfying and made for a great lunch at work the next day.  As Amy and Kate suggested, this was straight up Italian comfort food done well.

Vegetables, you've never been more unnecessary.

Vegetables, you’ve never been more unnecessary.

With the sheer mass of the food, it was tough to think about dessert but we are dedicated to sitting in true judgement about this place, so we soldier on.  Aimee ordered the Lemon Sorbet.   She loved it, calling the sorbet refreshing, light and zesty.  Plus points for presentation as it was served in a hollowed out lemon.  Amy got the Cannoli, which she dubbed really solid.   Durwood had the Tiramisu.   To say he loved it would be an understatement.  He called it fresh, light, creamy.  Basically a mouth orgasm.  It had him dancing in his seat.  Jason echoed that sentiment, calling it the best Tiramisu he’s ever had.

Sebastian and I ordered the Spumoni Ice Cream.  This is a dessert I hold near and dear to my heart.  When I was little, Marcello’s had a spumoni ice cream dish that I loved.  Spumoni is a molded ice cream dish (think Neapolitan) with fruit and nuts.  They would top it off for me with Creme de menthe.  I’m not sure why they would serve a 6 year old alcohol but my parents sure appreciated how quiet the ride home from the restaurant was.  I was disappointed that Mona Lisa did not have Creme de menthe but they offered Kahlua and it wasn’t the same but did call to mind the flavors of the dish as I remember it, which I loved.  Sebastian had his sans Kahlua and really loved the pistachio layer of the ice cream.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

The Kahlua made it melty. Come to think about it, it also made me a little melty.

In closing, while some of the food was hit or miss for the group, we overall really enjoyed the experience of dining here.  Most of us plan on coming back and Durwood said it would be a great spot for a date.  The staff was friendly and very helpful.  It was nice family meal, which is really what a good Italian restaurant is for.

Further reading: http://www.monalisalittleitaly.com/restaurant.php

To see all of the pictures from this dinner be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram

The Patio (38 of 52) (CLOSED)

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Imagine a party.  A huge party.  A blowout of epic proportions.  A party so big with so many people that it almost feels like everyone in the world is there, caught in a beautiful swirling chaos of fashion, music, alcohol, food and fun.  That was my birthday party.  Now imagine you’ve woken up the following day.  The sun is easily 10 lumens brighter than it normally is.  Sounds are louder.  Actually everything is louder.  Maybe you’re hung over, maybe not.  Maybe you woke up alone in your own home, maybe not.  Maybe your pants are accounted for… You get the point.   You want breakfast.  Even better, you want brunch.  It could even be the very reason you chose to have brunch at Pacific Beach’s The Patio the morning after your birthday party.  In any event.  My sleepy/hung over dining companions were as follows:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Anna-Educator, flannel wearer, still mad at us for going to Snooze without her

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Joey-Future music professor, Sazerac drinker, makes a mean cup of coffee

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

Kevin-Gentle giant, works among the dregs of humanity, probably lived with someone you know.

Kyle-Actual VH-1 game show star, Dr amazing, She brings the heat.

Lily-World’s Cutest Baby (a Joe & Nicole production)

Nicole-Stage Manager, Cupcake diva, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

We party hard. We breakfast hard. Yes, even the toddler. Especially the toddler, truth be told...

We party hard. We breakfast hard. Yes, even the toddler. Especially the toddler, truth be told…

The Patio boasts two locations in San Diego; one just outside Hillcrest and another in Pacific Beach.  As brunch is gay church, we opted for the surely-less-crowded P.B. location.  It was still pretty busy.  The website describes the atmosphere as “Cozy and vibrant” and the outdoor-ish patio was just that.  Aside from the flies, it was A lovely location to enjoy our food and drink.

Kyle and Kelsey both had the Smoked Pork Belly Benedict (spinach, potatoes, hollandaise, served on a house-made biscuit).  Kyle found the poach a bit overdone but the hollandaise was delicious.  She additionally felt the dish wasn’t terribly enhanced by the pork with an underwhelming biscuit but good potatoes.  Kelsey also felt the eggs were overcooked but she enjoyed the potatoes, saying they were well seasoned.  The dish was not a complete throw away for her.  Durwood ordered the Dutch Bourbon Pancake with caramelized bananas & apples, berry compote,  with chantilly cream.  The concept of the dish was something different from what Durwood was expecting.  He felt the flavors got muddled together in just a bunch of sweet.

Durwood's review may not have been but your blood sugar will be surely through the roof over this dish!

Durwood’s review may not have been but your blood sugar will be surely through the roof over this dish!

Joey ordered the Smoked Chicken Hash with Poached Eggs.  The chicken was smoky, which he liked but Joey also felt that was the only flavor note to the dish.  The poach on his eggs was inconsistent.  He would’ve preferred the potatoes that came with Kelsey’s dish instead of the hash.  It was his second choice to have the hash and he learned the valuable lesson that one should NEVER second guess one’s initial food order.  Ever.  Nicole had the Corn Flake crusted French Toast with seasonal berries, brioche and  whipped cream cheese.  Lily was still too drunk from last night to eat, which is only made more puzzling by the fact that she wasn’t at the party.   She prefers to drink alone.  Nicole thought the french toast had a great crunch and flavor.  She was disappointed to not be offered a kid’s menu for Lily, not realizing there was one available until nearly the end of our meal.

Draw me like one of your French toasts, Jack...

Draw me like one of your French toasts, Jack…

Kevin got a “Man-mosa”, a rum-based Mimosa with a slice of bacon for a swizzle stick.  For food, he got the Ranchero Skillet (eggs, soyrizo ranchero sauce, peppers, onions, cheddar cheese and patio potatoes).  He felt the Man-mosa was a little too rummy but bacon fat is good so he was a fan ultimately.  The skillet, on the other hand, failed to impress.  Kevin compared it to something you would get at Denny’s.  Ouch.  Anna ordered the Patio Breakfast with sausage,  and scrambled eggs.  While she wasn’t a fan of the biscuit, Anna really loved the rest of her meal.  She called the sausage some of the best she’s ever had.    Aimee had the Smoked Chicken Hash as well.   Her experience was not a good one.  She found the potatoes flavorless in the hash, completely lacking any crispness.  She also found the choice to use raw onion in the hash very unusual.  Her eggs were under seasoned and brown on the bottom.  She also had issues with the biscuit, saying that a drop biscuit should be smaller and less dense than the one offered.

Harry, Anna and I all got the Breakfast Potato Skin with cheddar cheese, bacon, eggs and scallions.  Harry started with a bloody Mary, which he said was awesome.  He was less impressed with the potato skin, calling it nothing special in a huge portion.  Anna really liked the potato and I also enjoyed it.   I also had the Smoke Pork Belly Burrito with eggs, potatoes, ranchero sauce, tomatillo sauce, cheese.  It was very hearty.  A good kind of fill-you-up-breakfast.  It was a bit greasy but after a night of heavy drinking, quite possibly just what the doctor ordered.

Note: You do NOT need to be hung over to enjoy this.

Note: You do NOT need to be hung over to enjoy this.

So the overall reviews of The Patio were not terribly favorable but as the aforementioned “Boy” in The Boy who Ate San Diego, I actually quite enjoyed the food here.  While it was a bit crowded and the service was not great (I asked for a Diet Coke that didn’t show up until my plate was clean, a tactic I thought was only used by my Mom to score dessert) I did enjoy my meal.  I would go back.  I would just have to find a different group of friends to go with.  Still, I go against the crowd and say thumbs up.  Try it for yourself and let me know if I’ve discovered a diamond in the rough here of if my taste is really just suspect.

Further reading : The Patio on Lamont website

To see all the pictures from this meal be sure to follow The Boy Who Ate San Diego on Instagram!

Eureka (37 of 52)

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Many column inches of this here blog have been dedicated to droning on and on about my search for a great burger and how they are, quite possibly, the world’s most perfect food.  This week’s challenge is a chain burger restaurant.  In a mall.  Sound scary?  It could be, but I’m no snob.  I’m always ready to judge anyone’s food, as are my burger-loving friends:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

Durwood-Best friend, comedian, San Diego’s go-to young black non-singing actor

Molly-Recent San Diego transplant, jewelry maker, The new girl

Your food tasters, much like the burgers, are prepared over an open flame pit.

Your food tasters, much like the burgers, are prepared over an open flame pit.

Eureka offers “a jubilant atmosphere with handpicked house music, televised sports and weekly events … Our exceptional hospitality and unique environment creates a value driven experience defined as “eatertainment!” I love a good buzzword.  Here’s hoping the food was given as much thought as the catchphrase.

First up were libations.  With lots of beer to go round but a limited amount of spirits, I wasn’t really in any mood to drink, so I let others take the lead.  Harry got the Sazerac.  He found it a little heavy on the anise but good.  David ordered the Moscow Mule (Which he found standard), Amy had the Rosemary’s Ruby Red (Gin, Rosemary, grapefruit & citrus).  Amy found the drink very refreshing and good.  Molly ordered the Hemingway (Rum, Grapefruit, Maraschino & Citrus).  She enjoyed it but said it was nothing remarkable.

Amy, Molly and I started with the Truffle Cheese Fries with creamy Havarti truffle sauce & green onions.  Amy felt the fries were lacking truffles and cheese while Molly also branded them a bit bland.  I think it’s a great concept but the execution left a little to be desired.  I immediately thought back to a more successful version of that dish I’d had earlier in the challenge.

You had one job, fries.

You had one job, fries.

Aimee ordered the Osso Buco Riblets with sherry braised pork & firecracker aioli.  She said they were pretty tasty but the sauce was a little strong.  David got the Lollipop Corn Dogs (Polish sausage in a sweet corn batter with spicy porter mustard,  homemade ketchup &  ranch), which he thought were fine but nothing amazing.

It was right around this time that the live music started.  A duo of Celtic-style/adult contemporary/music that sounds like the soundtrack to the pivotal scene in every rom-com ever where the female lead realizes she has to get on that train before her one true love departs forever-type music.  It was enjoyable enough but it was loud.  Coupled with an already crowded, closely seated area, it just kind of made for more noise on top of noise.

Soon it was time for main courses.  Aimee had the Fried Chicken Sliders with tomato jam,  house pickles & signature handcut fries.  She had a few issues with this dish.  She said the biscuit was the most un-biscuit like biscuit she’d ever had.  They were doughy when they should have been light.  Chicken was under seasoned and really thin.  It wasn’t an entrée for Aimee and felt more like an appetizer.  She also thought the Tomato jam was way overpowering.   Harry had the Naked Chicken Saltimbocca  with oven roasted tomatoes, proscuitto, sage, smoked mozzarella, arugula & lemon vinaigrette.  He said he wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but this wasn’t it.  He felt while all the flavor components were there, the proportions and textures were way off.  He said the highlight of the dish was the accompanying brown sauce, which read more like an Au jus.

David ordered the 8oz Flat Iron Steak with wilted kale,  chimichurri & signature handcut fries.  While he enjoyed it, he wasn’t blown away by it.  Durwood got the Cowboy Burger (fried shoestrong onions, bacon, cheddar & house made BBQ sauce with signature handcut fries).   Durwood’s #1 beef (heh) was that the bacon was limp, which compromised the textural and structural integrity of the burger.  He felt it was adequate but nothing special.  Amy had the Veggie Beet burger with added Havarti.  She enjoyed the patty but the bun was soggy and fell apart easily under the weight of it.  Kinda ruined it for her.

Molly and I both ordered the Napa Burger (with roasted Roma tomato,  pesto aioli,  Havarti,  pancetta,  arugula & signature handcut fries).  While Molly found the patty to be well cooked and juicy, she found the pancetta a bit bland and the bun a little insufficient for such a hearty burger.  Most bizarre to Molly was the side salad, which included blue cheese and cranberries.  Had she known this, she would’ve re-thought her decision to have them use ranch dressing.  Because ew.  I myself was a fan of this burger.  I’m not one to ever enjoy tomatoes on my burger but roasted roma is the way to go.  It gave great flavor to the burger.  I liked the pesto, cheese and pancetta.  It was messy but good.  I would order this again.

Oh yeah, the onion bangles were good too.

Oh yeah, the onion bangles were okay.

For dessert we tried two dishes; The Butterscotch Rum pudding (with homemade whipped cream, caramel sauce & flaky sea salt).  The other was the Chocolate Espresso Souffle Coffee Cup Cake (with homemade whipped cream and vanilla bean ice cream).  The butterscotch rum pudding was tasty but really lacked any rum flavor for Amy.  Molly found them tasty but, to use her words, “Not worth the calories”.  The chocolate cake was extremely rich but kinda muddled in its flavors.  I preferred it over the pudding.  Both dishes seemed to be included as after thoughts to round out the menu.

My favorite of the two desserts, if only for the excessive use of whipped cream.

My favorite of the two desserts, if only for the excessive use of whipped cream.

The overall feeling we were left with from Eureka was that of more upscale mall type food court food.  Granted, not the kind you’d find in any mall but I don’t know that I would make this burger, though tasty, a destination place.  Lots of competition for a good burger.  Lucky for the city, perhaps not so much for Eureka.

Further reading: http://www.eurekarestaurantgroup.com/

To see all the pictures from this visit be sure to follow The Boy who ate San Diego on Instagram!

 

 

Juniper and Ivy (36 of 52)

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While I’ve never considered myself one to come running to a restaurant once I hear the name of the celebrity chef behind it dropped, I have to say I have thing about Top Chef contestants.  I’ve been to nearly all of their San Diego eateries (including one I covered on this here blog).  Coupled with the fact that word-of-mouth has been awesome on this place, I was pretty excited for this week’s challenge, as were my band of cohorts:

Aimee-Roommate since the 90’s, BFF, allergic to hot dogs and therefore labeled a commie by many

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

Amy J-Rocky Horror performer, Michigan football loyalist, a common floozy

Chris-Attorney, lifelong food snob, loves good Scotch and gay jeans

Harry-Wise guy, master of the grill, loves camping for some reason

Kelsey-Project manager, Advanced level foodie, Has been known to drop it like it’s hot after a few cocktails

We're ready to go out in Blais of glory.

We’re ready to go out in Blais of glory.

Juniper and Ivy, from the imagination of one Chef Richard Blais, promises “Refined American food with a left coast edge”.  It’s located in the heart of downtown San Diego’s cooler older Sister, Little Italy on the block between Juniper and Ivy (an embarrassing amount of time passed before this connection occurred to me).  The bar menu at Juniper and Ivy is impressive.  Amy B, Harry & myself all ordered the Milly Vanilli (Gin,  Mint tea, Cherry anitdote & Vanilla Clove Foam) We were all big fans of this drink but it’s important to mention that the combination of vanilla and clove smells vaguely of dog breath but tastes delicious.  There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write but here we are.  Bottom line: the drink was awesome.

Chris decided to challenge the bartender by saying “Make me something with that rye I’ve never had”.  The result was Michtel Rye, Benedictine, peach bitters.  He loved it.  Harry and Kelsey both had the Devil in Disguise (Rye Whiskey, Creme de Mure,  Ginger, Soda & Bitters) Harry was a big fan and Kelsey applauded the lack of “Bourbonyness” in the drink.  Kelsey’s second (and third) drink was the Wells Bells (Vodka, Pineapple, Mint, Pena Honey & Citrus).  She called it good, mellow & not overly sweet.  Aimee ordered the “In The Ivy” (Orange blossom vodka, Summer berries & riesling).  Later with dinner, Amy B had a Hungarian wine, the 2011 Ribolla Gialla Erzetic Rebula Gorsika Brda SOLD AMERICAN!  She said the explosion of consonants was delicious.  Amy J had a 2012 Malbec (Bueyes Valle de Uco Mendoza), which she very much enjoyed.

For first round of apps, after much deliberation (you have no idea) we ordered as a table and shared the following: Our Buttermilk Biscuit with sea salt and smoked butter.  You guys, this was greatest biscuit of all time anywhere ever in life.  It’s served in a small cast iron skillet and it’s pretty amazing.  We even joked about ordering another one for dessert.  Less impressive for me were the Swedish Meatballs (with Red Kuri, McCart’s Preserves & Pumpkin Seed Pesto) but Aimee  said they were  juicy, delicious and sauce was so good.  Kelsey ordered the Ahi Tuna Tartare with Sunchoke Mayo, Blackberry & Easter Egg Radish.   She said the tartare had interesting flavor but she didn’t care for the floral notes.  Amy B had the Warren Pear Toast with walnut, pickled fennel & Pt Reyes Blue, which she thought was lovely.  I also ordered the Cherry Bomb Poppers filled with Pimento cream cheese.  They were nice enough with a pretty solid heat but nothing outstanding for me.  The other most impressive starter was the Corn Fritter with Avocado Crema.  Originally ordered by our vegetarians in the group, this dish was a hit with the entire table.  Crispy, fresh corn with a light batter and delicious cooling avocado crema.  Outstanding.

Juniper Ivy 2

The working title for this dish was “CORN BALLS WITH SOME GREEN SHIT”. Doesn’t matter. Still amazing.

For our main dishes, we selected a variety of small plates.   Aimee ordered the Linguni (it’s how they spelled it!) and Clams with uni butter, brioche crouton & red Chili.  She said it was divine and not at all skimpy on the clams.  She & Chris also ordered the Berkshire Pork Porterhouse with white corn puree, peach, smoked almonds & dandelion chimichurri.  Aimee seemed to enjoy this one more than Chris, who was more focused on other dishes in his praise.  Harry got the House Charcuterie (Duck Ballantine, Head Cheese, Chicken liver & Pate de Campagne).  He dubbed the plate awesome but not for first timers, with such daring departures from a normal plate of its kind.

Kelsey ordered the off-menu option “Burger and Fries”, a take off on (wait for it) the Double Double from In-N-Out.  Since it models itself after In-N-Out I can only imagine it means a decent burger with reheated elementary school cafeteria fries.  She loved the sauce and said the burger was juicy and cooked really well.  She also said the fries were well executed.  Kelsey also ordered the Bahn Mi (cured pork, pickled daikon & fish sauce caramel).  She said it had really nice balance.  While the dish wasn’t as overwhelming as it sounds, it did get to be a bit much towards the end.  Amy B. ordered the Corn Agnolotti with foraged mushrooms & huitlacoche.  Amy also ordered the slow roasted beets with bartlett pear ricotta, marcona almonds, miso honey vinaigrette & living kale.  She loved this dish and applauded how balanced it was and how different an approach it was to beets.   The vegetarians also had the heirloom tomato with early girl, sweet 100, feta ice cream, pine nuts, celery & banyuls.  Amy J loved how this dish was unusual but super yummy.  Many of the vegetarian dishes were well thought out with great textures.  She found the whole place very accessible to vegetarians.

I ordered the Prawn and Pork (smoked rigatoni with prawns, pork belly & burrata).  The pasta was well cooked and the sauce was rich and tasty.  The smokiness brought a really unique element to what could otherwise be a pretty standard dish.  The prawns were cut up, which was nice and the real stand out was the pork.  Salty and bacon-y goodness.

Smoked rigatoni. I always thought smoking in a kitchen was against health code but who am I to question Richard Blais?...

Smoked rigatoni. I always thought smoking in a kitchen was against health code but who am I to question Richard Blais?…

I also had the Corn Cobb (indigo rose, Suzie’s greens, lamb bacon, soft boiled egg, Enrique’s cotija & buttermilk pablano dressing).  While this was nothing Earth-shattering, it was a damn fine piece of roasted corn, which I highly enjoy.  I can’t say that each individual flavor came through but the cotija was the real star of this plate.  Salty but mild, adding a creaminess to the corn.  Delish!

I didn't care that I was in an upscale restaurant, I still ate it typewriter-style. I cannot be tamed.

I didn’t care that I was in an upscale restaurant, I still ate it typewriter-style. I cannot be tamed.

We were determined to go big on desserts, so we ordered the entire dessert menu, which consisted of the following:

Yodel (Devil’s cake, white chocolate, hazelnut brittle & hot chocolate which is poured over it at the table).  This was a feast of tastes and textures with crunchy and soft chocolate.  This was my second favorite dessert.

Macarons (3 flavors; coconut curry, cinnamon & lemon).  They were all excellent with unusual flavor choices.  A good macaron is an instant skill of any pastry chef and these were terrific.  Not a signature must-have, but very good.

A peanut butter and jelly of sorts (This one was harder to describe.  It’s just a mix of sorbets, cakes and fruit that taste like the sandwich)  We had something similar at Cowboy Star a few weeks ago but this was a less literal flavor interpretation.  It was pretty good.

Blueberry (Sherbert, corn cream, nitro yogurt).  This was Kelsey’s absolute favorite.  A zingy, zesty and sweet explosion of flavors and textures.  SUPER unique and very very good.

Caramel Chocolate Mousse (buttermilk, cocoa nib, meringue).  This was the business.  Aimee described it best as “Bowl-licking good”.  An amazing combination of salted caramel and chocolate in a light, fluffy mousse.  Stellar.

The worst part about this dessert was having to share it was 5 other people. Seriously amazing.

The worst part about this dessert was having to share it was 6 other people. Seriously amazing.

The wrap up on Juniper and Ivy is that it was well worth the hype.  It’s been profiled on a ton of must-do San Diego restaurants and it’s easy to see why.  The staff was also great and the whole vibe was cool.  Also, on a more surprising note, it was way more affordable than many of us were expecting, which means repeat visits will most certainly be a thing.  As the menu changes frequently, it will mean a new adventure every time, which even a creature of habit like me can appreciate.

 

Further reading: http://www.juniperandivy.com/

To see all of the pictures from this week’s restaurant, be sure to follow The Boy Who ate San Diego on Instagram!