Tag Archives: BW8SD

Bruxie (33 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

I’m back!  I hope you haven’t missed me too much.

For the last month I was in production of a new musical that made it’s world premiere here in San Diego.  I’ve still been going to restaurants every week but have been short on time to properly review them for you all.  Lucky for you, I take good notes and love attention.

I think it’s getting to the point in modern food, where you can actually classify gimmick as a restaurant category.  Whether it’s a cupcake ATM, a place that serves only side dishes or all the food is served upside down, there’s lots of new places offering a fun slant on traditional food.  Bruxie easily threatens to fall into that category as everything they serve is between two waffles.  Sound amazing?  Sound too good to be true?  I was unsure what to expect but I had my waffle-loving gang at the ready to sit in true judgement.

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

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

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

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

You had us at waffles.

You had us at waffles.

Located on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU to locals and the typographically lazy), Bruxie’s design is much more fast food than stuffy restaurant.  We were lucky to get in during morning hours as the place is usually jumping at night.  The menu offered a number of tasty breakfast, lunch and dessert-type things.  We ordered a pretty wide variety of waffle-hugging chow.

Amy J went the sweet route and ordered the Liege waffle with Nutella and caramelized pearl sugar sandwiched between two waffles.  She said it was very yummy, excellent portion size with a great crunchy texture from the crystalized sugar.  Nutella, is of course amazing, as anyone with taste will tell you.  Amy wishes there were more vegetarian-friendly menu items.  Harry had the Michel Cordon Bleu cold smoked Smoked Salmon Lox & Dill cream cheese waffle sandwich with cucumbers and chives.  He said the salmon and waffle were a really nice pairing.  The cucumber added a refreshing element with great crunch.  The sandwich was also accented nicely with what Harry called a “perfect amount of dill”.  Kelsey ordered the Prosciutto di Parma & Gruyere waffle sandwich with whole grain mustard and chives.  She felt the sandwich could use more acid to cut the overall heaviness.  Kelsey also had a side of “Irish Nachos” (Crispy waffle fries with Bruxie cheese sauce, applewood bacon, sour cream and chives).  She said they were delectable but lacking somewhat in the toppings.

If you had told me salmon on a waffle was good, I would asked "How high are you?!" of course, I asked that about most of the menu items here.

If you had told me salmon on a waffle was good, I would have asked “How high are you?!” of course, I asked that about most of the menu items here.  The stoners alone must pay the rent here.

Chris ordered the same sandwich as Kelsey (Prosciutto di Parma) but added arugula and a fried egg over medium.  While he enjoyed it, he mentioned he would be more apt to return for a breakfast waffle sandwich after trying Durwood’s order.   Anna had the Country Sausage, Egg & Cheddar waffle sandwich.  She also added maple syrup to the sandwich.   She said it was delicious but the real highlight to the sandwich was the very thin layer of mayo.  Amy B ordered the Lemon Cream and Seasonal Berries.  She said it was delicious and very well balanced.  Durwood had the Buttermilk fried Chicken and waffle with chili honey and cider slaw.  He said it was great with flavors that married extremely well and extremely juicy, well seasoned chicken.  He added the syrup, which he said was also good but ultimately unnecessary.

While it escapes me at the moment, I am confident there's a way to spin this as a "healthy breakfast"...

While it escapes me at the moment, I am confident there’s a way to spin this as a “healthy breakfast”…

Joey ordered the Roasted Mushroom and Goat Cheese Waffle Sandwich with fresh basil, arugual & balsamic reduction.  He also added avocado.  He felt it was a bit balsamic heavy but incredibly good.  Joey appreciated the great crunch of the waffle while remaining structurally stable as a sandwich.  Aimee had the Green Eggs and Ham Waffle Sandwich with Tillamook Cheddar, mayo & Arugula Pesto.  She said the pesto was good and really fresh.  the waffle was filling and not too soggy all at a great price.  I, along with Anna, ordered the Country Sausage, egg and Cheddar waffle sandwich.  I was horrified to discover the egg in question was a fried egg and not a scrambled egg, as years of setting my standards no higher than fast food breakfast sandwiches has taught me.   I went back up to the counter to order something else when they very generously offered to scramble the eggs for me.  I was truly shocked by that but they did it and it was really awesome.  A one-two punch of great food and great service.

My appetite was satisfied and childish food phobias were catered to. Perfection.

My appetite was satisfied and my childish food phobias were catered to. Perfection!

Dessert was also a big selling point for coming to Bruxie.  They serve frozen Custard, which Amy B was VERY EXCITED about.  I’m not talking Christmas morning excited, I’m talking we found a matching donor excited.  You see, as a native of Wisconsin, Amy was very familiar with this frozen treat.   I looked to her for the final official seal of approval and she gave a big thumbs up.  It had the taste and texture she remembers and loves.  She cannot wait to come back.  Several of us ordered the frozen custard and everyone enjoyed it.  I personally didn’t feel like it was far in taste and texture from soft serve ice cream.  But seeing as I love soft serve ice cream, this was hardly a bad thing.

What some call "dessert after breakfast", I call "research". For you, I do this.

What some call “dessert after breakfast”, I call “research”. For you, I do this.

Overall, I was super impressed with Bruxie.  Several people in our group had been to the Orange County location and enjoyed it.  I can see why.  It merges my love of waffles and things jammed between them.  Go.  You’ll thank me.

Further reading: http://bruxie.com/

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

Swami’s (32 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

Breakfast.

Just saying the word makes me smile.  It’s a gift to have breakfast.  Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise.  I love that other people love breakfast and then they open restaurants that serve it.  It’s a circle of love.  Not in the filthy way.  Or maybe it is for you, I have no idea what goes on at your house in the early hours of the morning.

Swami’s is one of the newest restaurants in the growing San Diego neighborhood of North Park.  It’s big, open early, has lots of natural light and a dog friendly patio.  These are all good things.  While I didn’t show up with a pack of hungry dogs it was good news for… Well, let’s just say my friends are also enthusiastic about breakfast:

Alex-Northridge student, EDM fan, Boy with camera

Amy B-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

Anna-Canadian goddess, theatre dresser and puppet builder.

Daniel-Metal lover.  Can tell you everything you want to know about great beer.  and he will.

Christy-Rocky Horror performer, Cat lover, We’ve all seen her boobs

Lea-Northridge student, Star Wars fan, Alex’s better half

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

A lot of squinting night owls.

A lot of squinting night owls.

One of the first things we noticed about Swami’s menu was also one of the coolest; there’s lotsa stuff on it.  I’m a big fan of stuff.  I also enjoy items and things.  A wide variety of juices and smoothies meant we had lots to try.  There’s also a ridiculous array of coffees to choose from.  Even more good news.  It’s not a sit down restaurant.  You order your food and drink at the counter and they bring it to you, which is kinda perfect for a place that operates when most working people don’t have time to sit down for a full breakfast on a weekday.  Those people probably go into their jobs later than 8am every day.  I hate those people.

Jason ordered the Eggs Benedict with bacon and avocado.  The eggs were in line with what he was expecting with a good poach.  The avocado and bacon option was a great addition to his dish.  The potatoes were a bit cold for his taste.  Jason works for a major coffee place (I won’t name it, but I must take this opportunity to stress that it is ABSOLUTELY NOT the place seen behind us in the photo.  Like, at all.  He would kill me for even implying such.)  As Jason comes with a lot of coffee knowledge I was curious to get his input.  He loved the choices but felt dark roast was underrepresented.  He tried 4 different coffees and dubbed the Organic French Roast the best.  It wasn’t burnt and was pleasantly astringent on the finish.  Daniel had the Lobster Benedict.  He described it as nothing short of Nirvana.  He really loved it.  The lobster was perfectly cooked and the dish wasn’t too salty.  He would absolutely come back for it.

swami lobster

If you think I didn’t spend a minute excavating a forkful of egg-less lobster from this plate, then you my friend have never experienced the endless frustration of eating with me.

Alex’s desire to to try the Corned Beef Hash was dashed as they were out of it, so he instead ordered the Breakfast California.  He wasn’t crazy about the spinach tortilla but found salvation in their red salsa.  It was well portioned and he was very full.  The potatoes got another less than stellar review.  Lea had the Huevos Rancheros and Apple Hop Juice.  While felt the addition of ginger in her juice left the apple taste kinda lost, she enjoyed her meal.  She loved the sauce and the great spicy element.  In the future, she wishes they’d go easy on the beans and chips but she was overall happy.

Anna ordered the whole grain Pancake, a Grapefruit smoothie and the Organic Mexican Blend Coffee.  She absolutely loved her smoothie.  She also gave high marks to the coffee bar and felt her multi-grain pancake was flavorful enough that it didn’t need syrup.  To me, that’s about the craziest thing I’ve ever heard but I was just gonna roll with it as I backed away slowly from Anna and made my way back to my normal people breakfast.   Canadians.  Love y’all.  Amy J had the Waffles Benedict (minus the bacon) and potatoes with a Swami’s Surprise Smoothie.  She enjoyed the smoothie.  She also approved of the Hollandaise sauce.  She was uncertain at first but felt the dish worked great with the waffles.  The eggs were slightly overcooked to her liking (she explained that they weren’t runny and should be)  She enjoyed the potatoes (way to turn it around in the 7th inning, spuds!)  The asparagus was overcooked and stringy, which is kind of crime but made up very little of an otherwise good dish.

Big food good. Sorry, I'm simply not that poetic before sunrise.

Big food good. Sorry, I’m simply not that poetic before sunrise.

Amy B ordered the Pineapple Upsidedown Pancakes with a Sea Horse (Orange, Lemon and Grapefruit) Juice.  Amy lives very close to Swami’s so this was a return visit for her.  She described her meal as “Serviceable but not amazing”.  Christy had the Belgian Waffle.  She was not thrilled with it and felt it was a bit too crispy but was in love with the fantastic bacon.  Her side of eggs were good but a little heavy on the onion.  She felt what she did have was good enough for another visit in the future to try other things on the menu.  I had the California Burrito with a fruit cup and Kona Coffee.  I enjoyed the coffee but that assessment doesn’t mean much coming from me as I’m a firm believer that coffee is like pornography: quality be damned, it’s there to do a job.  The burrito was pretty standard but you gotta remember I love breakfast burritos, so I had zero complaints.  The fruit cup was a cup with fruit in it.  Yummy.

Swamis burrito

Nutritional good and evil on one plate with salsa representing moral ambiguity (as usual)

Overall I would rank Swami’s not as a destination breakfast but certainly a good place that I would make a point of hitting up whenever I happened to be in the area around the most important meal of the day.

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

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

 

Cowboy Star (31 of 52)

by

Steak is a great example of what separates someone who loves to eat from a foodie.  If you go to Prime at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, you love a good steak.  If you go to Ruth’s Chris, you love a good steak.  If you go to Outback Steakhouse, you don’t love a good steak.  If you order steak at Denny’s, you don’t love yourself.  Drink some Oprah Chai tea and give yourself a hug.  The award-winning Cowboy Star, located in San Diego’s East Village, just outside downtown, promises “a unique dining experience by combining contemporary American cuisine with a western flare.”  Pony up, y’all.  It’s time for some old west fusion vittles!  Circling the wagons with me tonight are:

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

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

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

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

Renee-My dresser in “Five Course Love”, Fellow MSTie, lover of The Wizard of Oz

Tim-Renee’s mysterious counterpart

Hee-Haw: The Next Generation

Hee-Haw: The Next Generation…

The award-winning interior (yup, apparently they give out awards for that sorta thing, which is cool) masters the art of high-end meets country-come-to-town perfectly without being tacky.  Personally, I think a mechanical bull would off-set the look nicely but this is why people don’t pay me to decorate their homes and businesses.  Cowboy Star boasts an amazing variety of specialty cocktails and we were eager to try them (the ultimate one coming at the end of our meal).  Molly had the Hoosegow Mule; which she described as “fantastic” with a great melon flavor to it.  Chris ordered the house Manhattan and an Old Fashioned, which he said were GREAT and right up his alley.  Harry had the Smoking Gun followed by the Saddle Bum, both of which he said were delicious.  Renee had the Painted lady, which she described as strong and “perfumey but in the good way”.  Amy ordered an Old Fashioned (based on Chris’s recommendation) followed by the bourbon-based house Sangria.  She said all the cocktails were fabulous.

For starters before our meal, Molly ordered a C-Star Caesar Salad, which she said was pretty average but made with quality ingredients including, yes, actual sardines.  Renee and Amy both ordered the Heirloom Tomatoes with tomato sponge cake and pickled watermelon rind drizzled with basil puree and sherry vinaigrette. It received high marks from both ladies.  Aimee ordered the Roasted Lobster Mushrooms with seared bay scallops, duck egg, pureed scallions and shaved Summer truffles.   She said it was a little different from what she was expecting but the scallops were good and the sauce was delicious.  Grilled scallions is what made that dish for Aimee.

Chris and Harry shared the Special Hamachi 2 ways (raw and poached with pea pods, marinated cherries and enoki mushrooms).  Harry said the hamachi was incredible with a perfect gastric.  Chris also loved this dish.  I ordered the Sweet Corn Soup.  This soup was kind of amazing.  Smooth, creamy and super sweet.  Along with roasted pepper cornbread chunks, there was a special cream served in the soup.  It was grey stuff and, as promised by Lumier, it was delicious.  This soup was insanely, lick-the-bowl good.

The cream was grey and tasted like Thanksgiving. Look, If I knew what half the shit I eat was, I would probably just cook at home myself. Leave me alone...

The cream was grey and tasted like Thanksgiving. Look, If I knew what half the shit I eat was, I would probably just cook at home myself. Leave me alone…

For main courses Renee and Tim both had Snake River Farms Wagyu; An American style Kobe skirt steak from Idaho.  As someone who generally isn’t a steak person per se, Renee found herself pleasantly surprised with the dish, describing it as velvety, soft and delicious AKA BEEFGASM.  I wonder if she’s taken out the trademark on that term yet?  if not, I’m certain Burger King will jump on it.  Tim also enjoyed the flavors and textures, having had more than one tough steak in his time.  Harry & Chris had the daily cut of dry aged beef, which is aged for up to 35 days.  They also had side of Roasted Corn with chorizo and eggplant and a side of marinated sunchokes.  Harry said that there have only ever been 3 steaks he’s bought in a restaurant that he was happy to pay for and this was one of them.  This is either the highest praise or a sad essay on Harry’s inability to order a good steak throughout his life.  The real story of the night here was the sunchokes.  In a move no one saw coming, these sunchokes were delicious, hearty and full of rich flavor.  Chris likened them to the most “meat-like non-meat thing” he’s ever had.  That’s a really accurate description.  They were the bomb.  Chris and Harry also couldn’t resist ordering a side of Bone Marrow to compliment their steak and completely gross me out.  We’ve been over my feelings on the matter.

Aimee went against the norm and ordered Pan Roasted Salmon with toasted red rice, Chinese sausage, roasted brassicas and Salmon Verjus Reduction.  She said she rarely orders salmon but it was perfect.  Beautifully cooked, medium rare all the way through.  Beautful sear.  What made the dish were the side dishes, the rice (She would’ve gladly taken an order to go) braised cabbage (Brassicas) was amazing.  Just the right amount of char without getting bitter.  Molly had 8 ounce Filet with Blue Cheese crumbles.  She praised the cheese as a nice touch and said the steak was certainly one of the better ones she’s had.  The accompanying potatoes were nice but she prefers a more rustic style mash rather than the smooth, creamy version we were served.  I agree 100%.  Amy ordered the Braised local beets in smoked vegetarian beet puree with shaved beets and radishes, black olive chimmichurri, toasted peaches, cream and mint.  While she said the dish was well done, for Amy, it was less of an entree and more an appetizer due to the dish’s overall lightness.  The inclusion of some kind of starch would’ve helped but it seems like our vegetarian friends are better off ordering a few items a la carte and building their own dinner here.

For me, I thought it would be silly to eat dinner at Cowboy Star and not get a steak so I ordered the 12 ounce New York Strip (a favorite of mine) with Brandy Peppercorn Sauce.  It was really flavorful and very well cooked.  I also liked that, at $38, it was not as expensive as that kind of steak usually runs.  I’ve paid way more for the same thing elsewhere.  While I didn’t find any new ground being broken here from a culinary stand point, it was still a really great steak.

After years of ordering my steaks well done, I now prefer medium rare. Proof that one can go back after going black.

After years of ordering my steaks well done, I now prefer medium rare. Proof that one can go back after going black.

I’ve been droning on so much over the food at Cowboy Star, want to take this moment to recognize the service.  The staff there was fantastic, attentive and committed 100% to our dining experience.  Our server, Jeremy, knew his stuff.  He was helpful with suggestions about food and wine and had a fantastic sense of humor, which is exactly what you need when spending two hours in a restaurant with these drunk assholes  my friends and I.  I wanted for nothing, had every question answered and didn’t once see the bottom of my glass.  This makes me a happy boy.

Before we knew it, it was time for dessert.  As a table we ordered several of the desserts (as always, for science).  Among them were “Our PB&J”, an inventive dish comprised of a Peanut Butter Blondie with concord Grape Sorbet.  The flavors are on point and closely evoke a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  We also had the Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with warm butterscotch sauce.  The dish is served with chocolate ice cream but Jeremy suggested we do vanilla instead and it was another great call.  This was the hit of the desserts with the group.  It was light and mildly sweet without being totally overpowering or too custard-y.  My favorite of the desserts was the Sweet Tea Semifredo with stonefruit sorbet,  granola, meyer lemon & sliced stonefruit.  This dish was super original and unlike anything I’ve had.  I loved the flavors.   It was unexpected and I really really enjoyed it.

The House Wine of the South in dessert form. Yippie Kayay muther forker!

The House Wine of the South in dessert form. Yippie Kayay muther forker!

The final dessert item we ordered was something from the drink menu that we just couldn’t resist; A Bananas Foster Martini.  The only things you need to know about this drink is it’s sweet, it’s strong and it will make you believe in love again.  Several people in our group said they would come back for that martini alone.  But the point being, we’re totally coming back.  I think Chris said it best when he said that he can’t think of anything negative to say.  He (like I) had high hopes and they were not only met but exceeded.    Well done, Cowboy Star.

Further reading: https://www.thecowboystar.com/home

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

 

 

Saigon on Fifth (30 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

San Diego is a city rich in ethnic culture, particularly when it comes to food.  So to the point that we’ve got cuisine from nearly every imaginable country.  Even Canada!  But that’s a little too wild for me, so for tonight we’re sticking with Vietnamese.  I love Vietnamese food, particularly Pho, but as it’s balls-out hot here in SoCal, I was looking forward to exploring other options.  Saigon on Fifth is a staple of the San Diego neighborhood of Hillcrest.  Two things you should immediately know about Saigon on 5th:

-It’s not on Fifth.  It actually faces the other way on University just to confuse you.

-It’s WAY bigger than it looks.

Nestled into a business district block, Saigon on Fifth looks like any number of closet-sized restaurants wedged between each other in this ‘hood.  When we went inside, we were lead into a HUGE dining room with an open space leading outside to courtyard patio dining.  It was like a small Asian female Willy Wonka leading us into the chocolate room but with more fountains and less whimsical music.  Cool digs.  Joining me in this trip to Wonka’s factory were the following rowdy, gold ticket winning children:

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

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

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

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

Some of us needed a good drink, others a good meal. I just needed to pose in front of a brick wall. Everyone won.

Some of us needed a good drink, others a good meal. I just needed to pose in front of a brick wall. Everyone won.

Like almost every place in Hillcrest, Saigon on Fifth knows its clientele, so there were plenty of libations to choose from and my group wasted no time in sampling.  Aimee had the Cherry Blossom Cosmo, made with Sake.  She said it was really good with a muted sweetness.  Chris ordered a Bourbon Sweet & Sour but was less a fan of it, as it was prepared a little too sweetly for his taste.  Amy had the Buddah Mai Tai, which she described as “Strong, so YAY!”.  Harry ordered the Lychee Martini, which he was a big fan of.

For appetizers Aimee ordered the Steamed Mussels.  She said they were delicious with crispy toppings.  Amy had the Cream Cheese Wontons, which were good but pretty standard with a “meh-level” sauce.  Kevin and I both ordered the Imperial Spring Rolls with crab meat, delicate shrimp, chicken, and vegetables.  The texture was surprisingly crunchy and hearty but the meat was very tasty with a nice, spicy dipping sauce.

They taste more like egg rolls but I'm largely an uncultured savage, so I'll take them at their word.

They taste more like egg rolls to me but I’m largely an uncultured savage, so I’ll take them at their word.

For our main courses, Amy ordered the Bun (a classic Vietnamese dish) with Lemongrass Tofu.  It was different from the way she’s had it in the past but said it was good.  She requested the vegetarian dressing in place of the usual fish sauce.  She described the more veggie-friendly dressing as sweeter than expected but delicious, light and fresh; a great dish for Summer.  Harry had the Spicy Lemon Grass Soup – Fresh Chilli-base soup with lime, lemon grass accent, cooked with lemon leaf and mushroom.   He said it was perfect.  A great combination of spicy and tangy.  Chris ordered Vietnamese crepe with pork and shrimp, which he said was good.

Aimee had the Mango Fish (Whole Sea Bass pan-fried to a crisp, served with shredded green mango in chilli garlic sauce).  She said it was delicious, perfectly fried with a great sauce.  She also loved the green papaya salad included on the dish, which was both cooling and refreshing.  Kevin ordered the Orange Duck, which he said was perfectly crisp and not too fatty with an amazing sauce.  I ordered the Spicy Noodle with Shrimp.  As a big lover of Thai food, I was excited to try its Vietnamese counterpart.  It was delicious.  I ordered the heat level at a 5 out of 10, which was pretty much perfect for me.  Also of impressive note were the shrimp.  They were fresh, huge and really well cooked.  Kind of loved this dish.

Panda Express this is not.

Panda Express this is not.

The dessert menu is a small one with just two options; sweet sticky rice with mango or fried banana cheesecake (note to self: book a trip to Vietnam ASAP).  Chris, Amy and I split the sticky rice.  I’ve only ever had savory rice but it was okay.  I’m not a big fan of fooling my already profoundly dumbed down palette with savory/sweet trickery.  Plus the presentation was… well…

Not working blue today so draw your own caption.

Not working blue today so draw your own caption.

Overall I have to say I really loved this place.  The decor is lovely, the atmosphere is cool, the patio is quiet and romantic (if I ever have another date again, we’re totally coming here).  The food was great and it didn’t cost a fortune.  Opinions among the group were more mixed as Chris brought up an interesting point.  Vietnamese places tend to be more down-home “hole-in-the-wall” type places with more variety and cheaper prices.  He felt as though we were paying more for the ambiance than anything else.

For me, I like ambiance and while I’m sure there are some kick ass, more elbows-on-the-table-style Vietnamese places, this is a great centrally-located place that I plan to come back to often.

 

Further reading: http://saigononfifth.menutoeat.com/

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

 

Old Town Mexican Cafe (29 of 52)

by

San Diego has absolutely no shortage of Mexican restaurants.  You can pretty much find one anywhere.  Historic Old Town is no different.  It’s the oldest place in San Diego (oddly enough not home to the oldest people.  Looking at you, La Jolla…) It has culture, theatre and the 10th most haunted house in America . Directly across the street from the Whaley House is Old Town Mexican Cafe, where Scooby, Shaggy and the gang can enjoy a margarita after running from Yankee Jim with the Harlem Globetrotters.  As for me, I brought my own gang of rag-tag ghost hunters:

Abby-Swim instructor, Disneyland buddy, Stresses about making food for my other food-savvy friends

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

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

Kasey-Rocky Horror performer, Coffee wife,  Occasional Drag King

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

Sean-Former “Ambassador to Spain”, Halloween spookster, A picky eater like me

Yes, Mexican culture is rich, in-depth and lovely. Keep the Margaritas comin'...

Yes, Mexican culture is rich, in-depth and lovely. Keep the Margaritas comin’…

The first place you notice about Old Town Mexican Cafe is it’s big, crowded and LOUD.  Not the place you wanna bring a quiet dinner date but the party atmosphere is pretty contagious.  In what can only be described as the ultimate reward from the universe, we happened to be dining at Old Town Mexican Cafe on National Tequila Day.  Yes.  That is a thing.  Actually everyday is national something day.  ALL OF THE MARGARITAS FOR EVERYONE!!!   Abby had the Patron Margarita, which she called “effective”.  It’s important to note that Abby had already been there for a while when we arrived and was at a point in her Tequila Day celebrating where we probably could’ve gotten her to dance on our table with her skirt over her head with minimal fuss.  Ky had the Mango Margarita.  Kasey had the Strawberry Margarita, which she found to be lacking a fair deal of flavor and was essentially “The flavor of red”.  Harry got the 1800 Cadillac Margarita, which he called “awesome”.  Aimee ordered a Midori Margarita, which she also said was good but lacking flavor.  I had the classic margarita (blended).  The margarita was tasty and effective and totally worth the pain I had to endure from a bad reaction to lime juice with my medication.

Worth the pain.

Worth the pain.

The menu is big and they’ve got a wide array of Mexican and American food to choose from.  I would love to meet the sad tourist that would come here and have a burger, but I digress.  Abby ordered Mexican Shrimp Cocktail, which is served almost ceviche-style and she enjoyed.  Ky and I both had the chicken and rice soup, which was hearty and good.  Possibly not the best choice for a hot July day after a Margarita, but I like food so there’s that.  I also ordered the 3 Lobster Rolls.  I’ve seen these done elsewhere but they always seem to have black beans in them, so that was a deal breaker.  I’m happy to say that while Old Town Mex’s Lobster Rolls were not the greatest thing I’ve ever had in life, they DO NOT have beans of any kind in them, so this was a tasty victory.

Sized for sharing but I could've easily demolished this plate without a second thought.

Sized for sharing but I could’ve easily demolished this plate without a second thought.

For main courses Abby had the Fish and Lobster Enchilada, which she loved.  Sean had the two Enchiladas combo with one chicken and one pork enchilada.  While he mentioned he wished the chicken meat had been cut smaller for an enchilada, he said it was tasty and the pork enchilada was perfect.  Ky had the Steak Azteca (Marinated steak stuffed with jack cheese and  green salsa).  Ky said the steak was amazing but her rice was gross.  The salsa had some serious heat to it but she really  liked what it brought to the steak.

Harry ordered the Mariscada (Marinated shrimp and halibut with lime juice, onions, cucumber and avocado).    He said it was a nice light flavor.  Sort of like having a plate of ceviche.  He wished the cucumber could’ve had a bit more marinade but no other complaints.  Aimee got the 1/2 rack of Mexican style ribs.  She said that these were probably some of the best ribs she’s ever eaten.  High praise from our Southerner.  They are prepared rotisserie style and are served with no sauce but Aimee insisted it wasn’t needed.  Also delicious were the home made tortillas served with the dish.

Kasey ordered the Beef taco and Tostada Combo.  She described the dish as “standard sit-down Mexican restaurant quality” and was creeped out by the crust over her beans.  I had the Chicken Verde Enchiladas with rice and no beans.  I thought they were good with a nice spicy sauce.  I’ve had better enchiladas elsewhere but these were pretty solid and not super expensive.  It was a good meal.

Mexican food as it should be. Fresh, hot, bean-less and in front of me.

Mexican food as it should be. Fresh, hot, bean-less and in front of me.

For good measure, we ordered one of the few desserts offered, Churros with Vanilla Ice Cream.  These weren’t exactly a showstopper in concept, execution or taste but they were good enough.  While Old Town Mexican Cafe is a fun place with a great party vibe.  I think I would come here more for the bar food and drinks.  Not that this is a bad thing at all.

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

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

Heat (28 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

*sigh*

Okay, here goes…

The trendy San Diego neighborhood of Hillcrest (Trendy, of course, meaning “gay”) is home to some great food.  I’ve covered several places in Hillcrest on this here blog.  Located just a mile or two away from Balboa Park and right next to my favorite night club, Heat is a small place that offers Seasonally-inspired, all-natural cuisine crafted from local fresh ingredients and culturally infused.  We had a rather large group but they were able to offer an outdoor table to us:

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

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

This week's episode of "Diners, Drive-ins and Dispappointments" is brought to you by Jaegermiester. All hail the might orange buck.

This week’s episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Disappointments” is brought to you by Jaegermiester. All hail the mighty orange buck.

We ordered damn near the entire drink menu so I’ll try to keep the details as accurate as possible.  Harry had a Manhattan.  Aimee had the Peaches and Bubbles (Brokers Gin, Pavan Liqueur, fresh squeezed lemon, Peach Puree, a dash of Angostura Bitters, Brut Prosecco and lemon zest).  She said it was really good and beautifully blended.  Most importantly it was strong.  Joey and Chris both ordered the Divine Aspect (Apple wild Turkey Rye, Gin and Apricot Liqueur).  Chris described the drink as “Mind blowingly good” but when he ordered a second one, it arrived over an hour later and it was inconsistently mixed, making it a whole different drink.  Joey described his as “really satisfying”.  Chris followed that with Amy J & Kelsey, who got the Blacklist Punch (Dark and white rum, Mahoney & Powell Pomegranate, fresh squeezed Ruby Grapefruit, Bitters and a dash of Nutmeg), which they seemed to enjoy.  Amy J followed with an Amaro Smash (Svedka Vodka, Averna Amaro, fresh squeezed lemon,  orange wedges and Agave nectar), which she said was tasty as well.  Kelsey and Amy B had the Sam’s Smash (Bourbon, Briottet Creme De Mure, Passion fruit puree and simple syrup with a pinch of lemon and mint) followed by an American Mule (American Harvest Vodka, passion fruit puree,  fresh squeezed lime, ginger syrup & dash Angostura).  This drink unfortunately seemed to be “mostly ice”.

For appetizers Harry ordered the pickle plate (or as Joey hilariously called it, “A brine-y plate”).  Joey and Kelsey had the Flatbread Du Jour (Pork, onion and Dr. Pepper Barbecue sauce)  and the Quinoa and Farro with Beets, Goat Cheese, Dates, Watermelon Radish, Olives, Arugula, Citrus Vinaigrette.  Joey enjoyed it but felt the dish would be better served with a different cheese and the Dr. Pepper got lost in the sauce, whereas Kelsey pretty much dubbed anything “Dr. Pepper” flavored a misnomer, especially barbecue sauces.  Amy J had the soup du jour, which was a tomato basil soup.  She didn’t actually order this but it was brought to her and she seemed happy to have it.  Chris ordered the Cheese and Charcuterie plate as well as the house special fish tacos.  He really enjoyed the olives and meat cuts but felt the fish taco was unimpressive.  I had the potato chips with smoked sea salt aioli.  They were pretty standard and tasty.  I’m a sucker for a good aioli.

Potato Chips but yay Aioli!

Potato Chips but yay Aioli!

Here’s where the problems really started kicking into high gear.  The food took a long time.  Like, a really long time (like, all-told, we were there for more than 3 hours, long).  The place wasn’t terribly busy so we were never actually sure what the hold up was.  When the food did eventually arrive, there were issues.  Harry ordered the Mac N’ Cheese with Duck Craklin’s.  He hated it.  It was bland and said “Kraft Blue Box is better than this atrocity”.  This was the first (and only) place in this challenge that he had to ask for Salt and Pepper.  Aimee had the Duroc Natural Pork Chop with soft polenta, charred raddichio and apple raisin persimmon Chutney.  She said the porkchop was overcooked.  While the polenta was okay, the raddichio was extremely bitter.  She found the whole dish to be way over priced.  Joey and Jackie both ordered the Local Mussels and Fries Sake with confit garlic, shallots, aioli sauce and fresh herbs.  When Jackie’s arrived, it had sat out so long it was cold, so she sent it back.  Joey’s did not arrive for more than an hour after he ordered it and when it did show up, it had no spoon, no additional, plate, no side items and no fries.  Jackie’s second order arrived and she said they were good but nothing special.

With a small amount of vegetarian options available, Amy J had the Quinoa and Farro appetizer as her meal.  She said it wasn’t great but it was okay.  The dish could’ve used more cheese and dressing.  She worried that Heat’s angle of “Healthier food” may be the cause behind some flavor sacrifices.  Amy B ordered the Melange of Seasonal Vegetables with soft polenta, pickled shallots, Piquillo peppers and shaved parmesan.  She felt the dish needed Salt & pepper.  While polenta (much like Aimee’s) was decent, the uncooked yellow squash was just “meh”.  Kelsey order the grilled Flat Iron Steak with potatoes pave, cauliflower, creamed swiss chard, baby carrots and Bordelaise sauce.  Kelsey said the steak had good flavor but was way overcooked.  The potatoes were flavorless and raw.  While the cauliflower and creamed spinach were good, the carrots were overcooked to complete mush.

Some of the rare highlights of the main courses were Chris’s Maple Leaf Duck Breast with Duck cracklings, Farro, roasted cauliflower, sauteed greens, dates and sherry gastric.  He really enjoyed it.   Craig and I both ordered the Heat Natural Burger with Bacon jam, Gruere, Peppery greens, House fries and jalapeno Aioli.  Craig added a fried egg to his burger and I didn’t because ew.  I thought the burger was pretty solid.  Juicy and a little messy (like a good burger should be) but hardly a stand out from anything you could get elsewhere.  My fries were cold and gross.  They had obviously sat out for a while.

It took me several seconds to realize that this picture was not an outtake from my review of Pure Burger a few weeks ago.

Cold fries from a place called Heat…

So where did it all go wrong?  This place came highly recommended to me.  The Yelp reviews are impressive.  It didn’t make any sense.  We came to this place as lovers of great food and drink.  We wanted to like it but the whole night was a mess.  So we had to do something we’ve never done on this challenge: we had to speak to the manager.  I am loathe to complain but I, like several other people at this table, have experience in the restaurant industry and knew exactly how badly the ball had been dropped.  Especially considering we had reservations and dropped some serious cash (scroll back up and have another look at that bar tab) to have had such a negative experience.

The mark of a good restaurant is how they take a bad situation and make it right.  In addition to knocking 50% off our bill, the manager had the kitchen prepare 4 different desserts for the table, gratis.   This meant another 30-45 minutes but we love dessert and were eager to put a positive spin on the night.  Among the dishes they brought us were Strawberry Shortcake, Banana Bread Pudding with Cinnamon ice Cream and a S’more’s-style dish.  I’m pleased to report that these were all pretty fabulous.  A bitterwseet end of sorts.

The problem was this may have been too little too late as, of the 11 people in the group, only Craig and I would be willing to return to Heat in the future.  I’m no glutton for punishment, despite what my dating life would suggest, I’m just super curious to see if this bad experience was an isolated incident.  Chris wisely pointed out to the manager that there were bright spots on the menu and if they could get a handle on the kitchen, Heat could have real potential.  The problem is just that for a lot of people, the best food can sometimes be overshadowed by a bad service experience.

My hopes, they were higher.

Further reading: http://www.heatbarandkitchen.com/index.html

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

 

Southpaw Social Club (27 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

One of my favorite memories growing up was when my Dad would take my Brother and I to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox play.  I couldn’t tell you a single team that played against the Sox during any of the games we went to because that wasn’t the reason I loved it.  For little Anthony, it was all about the excitement of the crowd, the lights and the food.  I LOVE ballpark food.  I also loved the fact that driving home from Boston back to Rhode Island always meant that we got home so late that I wouldn’t have to go to school the next day, which was pretty much the best thing ever.  I went to a Padres game for the first time last year and had a ball eating (and drinking, yay being an adult!) myself silly.  I could seriously care less about the game itself then or now.  I have less romantic memories of Petco Park coming to San Diego in 2002.  You see, I had a lovely apartment in the heart of Downtown San Diego.  Once plans were finalized to give San Diego a second stadium (Y’know cuz Qualcomm got lonely), my rent tripled in a very swift and effective way of exterminating the middle class from this new cash cow real estate.

Southpaw Social Club is right at the gates to Petco Park and I was unsure what to expect.  As Downtown has a slew of hipster, douchey, bros and hos, tourist trap type places, I was sure with a name like “Southpaw Social Club”, I was going to be up to my mohawk in ironic cocktails and gastro foam.  Obviously, I couldn’t go on this journey alone…

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

Anna-Canadian goddess, theatre dresser and puppet builder.

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

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

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

Joe-Theatre and beer enthusiast, podcast co-host, Co-Creator of World’s Cutest Baby

DSCF2722

I’m not really sure what Harry’s doing there on the right but Brad seems pleased. Lily on the other hand seems deeply concerned.

With such an expansive drink menu at Southpaw, drinks were a must.  Aimee started with the Southern Hospitality (Bourbon, Ginger Peach & Honey Syrup with Lime & Angostura).  She instantly dubbed this drink “The Magic elixir” and ordered a second one 2 sips into her first.  She really, really liked it.  Of course with 4 beer lovers in the group (Lily only drinks bourbon) there was plenty of beer tasting to be done.  Harry had the Ballast Point Sextant Stout.   Anna had a Lomaland Saison from Modern Times.  Joe had the beer flight with Golden Monkey, Tricerahops, Rubusto & Shake Money Maker.  I could obviously care less about the beer but watching our server grow increasingly uncomfortable during his long explanation of each beer to Joe while a toddler kept fondling his inner thigh was comedy gold.  I could’ve pretty much watched the adventures of creeper baby all night.

For appetizers Brad ordered the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Skewers with German Potato Salad and Sherry Gastric.  He said the bacon was awesome; perfect and smoky with great sized shrimp. Anna ordered the Lincoln Log Duckfat Fries with Bleu Cheese Dip and Tap Mustard.  Anna immediately pointed out that these things are not fries in the traditional sense.  They’re huge.  Tasty but huge and lacking a bit of flavor on the duck fat end.  I started with the house made Pretzels with garlic, salt, herbs, cheddar sauce and tap mustard.  While the tap mustard was bitter and weird, I am IN FRIGGIN LOVE with these pretzels and cheddar cheese sauce.  The look and consistency is closer to a breadstick but the flavors are fantastic.  Worth coming back for this alone.  Total winner.

I dream of these nightly now. If I liked beer I might never have left.

I dream of these nightly now. If I liked beer I might never have left.

For main courses Aimee had the Blackened Tilapia Sandwich with Applewood smoked Bacon, shaved red onion, baby arugula, spiced aioli on a brioche bun.  She described the bacon as “magnificent” (This place does amazing bacon).  The blackened seasoning rub was perfect and the fish was beautifully cooked.  Great sandwich.  Harry had the Crab & Shrimp Endive Wraps (with Granny Smith Apple, Fennel, Dill Greek Yogurt, Shallots, Lemon Vinaigrette & Sherry Gastric).  Harry said the dish was nicely spiced and he loved the refreshing element brought by the Tzatziki.

Joe and Brad both had the Southpaw Mac with Applewood Smoked Bacon, English Peas, Vermont White Cheddar & Pretzel Crumbs.  Joe loved the use of bigger noodles with great sharp cheeses.  The pretzels added a nice crunch.  Brad, on the other hand was not feeling the pretzels as they were storebought and small.  The idea of the house made breadstick-sized pretzels jammed on top of this Mac n’ cheese would just be… sexual  tasty.  Lily had pasta and apple sauce as our server  felt things between them were moving too fast and he could no longer look her in the eye.

Anna had the Steak Burger with Applewood Smoked Bacon, Vine Ripe Tomato, Smoked Cheddar, House Dressing, Habanero Pickle on a brioche bun.  She absolutely loved the jalapeno pickle.  She said the burger was very good and the bacon was “the truth”; the real standout of the whole dish.  I had the Lobster Roll with celery, corn and onion with a side of kettle chips.  Having grown up in New England, I’m a huge snob when it comes to lobster rolls but I gotta say this was damn tasty.  The fresh corn was a nice touch and the kettle chips were great.  Super satifisfying meal.

Southpaw 2

A taste of home without the shitty weather.

So while Southpaw Social Club is heaven for those who love beer and baseball, there’s plenty of other fantastic things to be found there.  It wasn’t game night so it was chill and not super crowded.  This place is definitely going to be added to the regular rotation of “have to hit” places when I’m downtown.

Further reading: http://southpawsocialclub.com/

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

 

 

Alchemy (26 of 52) (CLOSED)

by

I kind of love the San Diego neighborhood of South Park.  It’s got small town charm with hipster-y pubs and bars plus a yummy ice cream parlor.  There’s also a number of great places to eat in this section of town.  Among them is a place many of my friends have been going to for years but I’d never been to.  Several people were shocked to hear I’ve never been to Alchemy to which I always responded next time invite me, bitches  I guess the timing just never worked out.  Oh well, that’s what this here challenge is all about.  Joining me in this week’s adventure were:

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

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

DSCF2721

Until we come back here and get a photo of all of us staggering drunk after sampling the entire drink menu, this shot will have to do.

The atmosphere at Alchemy is nice.  There’s books on ceiling.  I’m not sure why but it’s a quirky touch that I enjoyed and most importantly, not a single one fell on my head during dinner.  That’s a good thing,  as my ability to injure myself in unusual and hilarious ways is at damn near Wile E. Coyete levels.  Alchemy, as to be expected from their name, has a rather enormous drink menu.  Our group made good use of it here.  Aimee had the white Sangria, which she loved and applauded the fact that it was served without ice.  Amy ordered the Alchemist Mule (grapefruit-lime cordial & ginger-beer with Vodka) and later the Southpark (Gin, barrel-aged satsuma shrub & burnt orange).  She felt the real strength of this place was in their drinks with their interesting and different options.  Joey echoed those sentiments, adding that the cocktail menu was super thought-provoking and one that he’s eager to explore further.

For appetizers, Kelsey had the Shrimp Cocktail.  She found it nothing to write home about with a runny sauce.   Amy had the Pepita y Limon Ensalada (english cucumber, shaved radish, house blend red chile powder, arbequina olive oil,  micro cilantro)  and a bowl of Watermelon Gazpacho.  She said the salad was nice &light but could use a touch more chili powder.  In contrast, she loved the gazpacho and said it was fantastic.  Suzanne, Joey and I all ordered the Thai Corn Fritter (white corn,  chick pea flour,  fish sauce,  green curry,  micro cilantro & sweet chili sauce).  Joey called it delicious with a perfect pairing in the chili sauce but wouldn’t have minded a heavier hand with the fish sauce.  I really liked these.  The corn was fresh and sweet.  They were fried a little harder than I like but the flavors were all there and the sauce was insanely good.

I would build every course around this sauce... Which would get really awkward come dessert...

I would build every course around this sauce… Which would get really awkward come dessert…

For main courses Aimee ordered K.C. BBQ Pork Spare Ribs, Cheddar cheese grits with apple wood smoked  bacon and cheddar bay biscuits with wild flower honey-butter.  Aimee  said her ribs were delicious; tender but not overdone with a great sauce.  Of less note to her were the sides, stale white bread and “grocery store quality” cole slaw.  Pretty standard sides in her estimation.  Her grits (which were strangely missing bacon) were good, which is high praise from an Alabama native raised on such fare.  The real star aside from the ribs for Aimee were the biscuits and honey butter, both of which she absolutely loved.  Suzanne had the Sancocho Columbiano (stew pot chicken,  carrots,  plantain , yucca,  sofrito,  avocado & micro cilantro).  This was a dish Suzanne grew up eating.  Alchemy’s approach was a little different from how she knew the dish but she enjoyed their take on it.  The temperature at which the dish was served was a little extreme and she’d never seen the dish served with bone-in chicken but she really enjoyed it and the soffrito based, which they seemed to nail.

Joey had the Watermelon Cod.  While the dish was light and fresh, Joey felt the flavors were lacking.  The seasoning that was there was noticeably uneven from bite to bite.  The pickled watermelon on the dish could’ve been stronger in flavor but the radishes offered a nice texture component.   Kelsey ordered Braised Beef Cheek with Ricotta Polenta and cheddar bay biscuits with wild flower honey-butter.  While she felt brown gravy was an odd choice for the dish, she did enjoy it but felt it was under seasoned and nothing she couldn’t make at home.  We’ll file the last part of that sentence under “things you’ll never hear me say unless a cereal restaurant opens somewhere”.

Amy ordered the Farro Risotto with heirloom tomato, broccolini, shaved golden beets, almond cilantro pesto & almond parmesan.    She was very impressed with the Farro.  Most places that offer a vegetarian or vegan options (Alchemy has both) tend to be limited and unimaginative in their offerings but Amy was really happy to see all that they offer.  She said Alchemy really knows how to make a good vegetarian dish.  “They get us.”   Harry had the shoe string frites & Larb Goong (shrimp tossed with lime, mint, bibb lettuce cups & peanuts).  Harry, like most of us who tried it, was crazy about the curry ketchup offered with the fries.  The curry spice with the tomato was kind of perfect.  Even Joey (a notorious ketchup detractor) seemed to like it.  Harry said the Larb Goong was really good with a nice, nutty flavor.

At first I resisted ordering the Fish & Chips as it seemed to be a very pedestrian choice.  I’ve noticed as time has gone on with this challenge, I’ve gotten used to ordering more unique dishes so this felt like a step back.  On the other hand, it was what I wanted so I went for it.  The portions were huge!  3 pieces of giant fried fish in newspaper.  That having been said, they were pretty delicious.  The fry went a little more well done than I prefer but it was super tasty and moist.  Then we have the chips.  THANK YOU SWEET LORD OF POTATOES!!!!  ACTUAL. STEAK. FRIES.  THIS is what I have been wanting for WEEKS!!!  Thick cut, done to perfection.  Floppy, moist and fluffy (also the names of my imaginary pet Llamas)  The garlic aioli was outstanding.  I’m sure the curry ketchup would’ve been pretty bomb with these also but by the time this occurred to me, the garlic aioli and I had already cemented our monogamous relationship with one another.  Seriously awesome.

Yes the fish was good but THEM FRIES, THO.

Yes the fish was good but THEM FRIES, THO.

After dinner, Harry and Suzanne kept the drinking theme going with a flight of Ports.  They seemed to enjoy them very much.  Suzanne called them a great finish to a really nice meal.   Alchemy’s dessert menu is by no means large but we sampled some of it.  Aimee & Harry had the duo of house-made gelato (The featured flavors were Lime/Cherry and Pink Guava).  They were both very tasty but the portions were a bit small.  Just a scosche above tasting portions.     Amy ordered the Blueberry Bread Pudding with bourbon caramel, strussel and cinnamon gelato.  This one was pretty deadly.  Sweet in all the best ways.  It evokes flavors of every great kind of blueberry baked goods and the cinnamon gelato was outstanding.

The big Blueberry finish.

The big Blueberry finish.

Overall I would say Alchemy lives up to the hype.  It seems like it would be a great place to stop in for a cocktail and some small plates at the bar.  Their brunch is also highly touted and this place made a good enough impression on me that I’m eager to return and see how many of those steak fries I can eat at try their brunch.

 

Further reading: http://alchemysandiego.com/

If you want to see all of the pics from this week’s entry, be sure to follow The Boy Who Ate San Diego on Instagram!

Addison (24 of 52)

by

When I think about some of the best meals I’ve ever had, the 1st attribute of them that comes to mind is not that they tasted good.   I mean, of course, they “tasted good” (that’s kind of a basic qualifier)  but the very best meals go much further than that.  These meals transport you.   They make you taste the skill in preparation.  Each ingredient sings and comes together in such a way that you never forget not only the taste, but the presentation, the smells and how eating it made you feel.  That’s the real stuff there.  The stuff that makes you view food differently than you did before you sat down for that meal.

Addison, located by the Grand Del Mar,  is Southern California’s only Five-Star/Five Diamond restaurant and is said to be the “finest dining experience available in San Diego”.  Well, Addison, the crew from BW8SD and I wholeheartedly accept your challenge.

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

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

Kathy-Loves a good farmer’s market, another camping enthusiast, Mother of Chris.

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

 

Me and my dear friends in the world of high end fancy-pantsness. Amazingly, they let us use the good silverware.

Me and my dear friends in the world of high end fancy-pantsness. Amazingly, they let us use the good silverware.

In addition to this here blog post, we were also celebrating Chris’s birthday.  He has been one of the driving forces behind this blog and he suggested this place so I figured if I’m gonna drop an obscene amount of money on dinner I may as well do it under the guise of celebrating the birth of a dear friend.  We were led by our host (yeah, we had our own) into the marble-lined lobby, through the marble-lined foyer into the equally marble-lined salon.  That’s fancy talk for lounge, in case you thought they were going to give us all ANTM-style makeovers before letting us into their restaurant.  Although, for a minute, I was hopeful.  We ordered some cocktails to start the night.   Aimee and I both had the La Grand Champange; j.lassalle champagne, grand marnier, bitters.   Sumptuous, fruit forward with great bubbles and a slight sweetness.  Also, strong enough to knock out a burrow.   Kathy ordered the Philanthrope; patron silver, basil, cucumber, lime, agave.  She loved the refreshing qualities of the drink.   Amy B had the Les Belles Abielles; belvedere vodka, thyme, lemon, vanilla, honey.  She said it was delicious and loved the name.  Harry ordered the Creme a’ l’orange; buffalo trace bourbon, lillet, orange.  He also enjoyed it.   Kelsey had the Mon Amor; bombay gin, elderflower liqueur, campari, lemon.  Le Salon visit was going really well.   Along with our cocktails, Chris ordered a plate of Kumamoto Oysters, which he and everyone else who ate them said were absolutely spectacular.  They seriously wouldn’t shut up about it so I’m gonna guess they were good.

The time had come and our table was ready.  Our bartender took all of our drinks and arranged them on a tray so we could be led into the main dining room.  We walked in procession and all I could hear in my head was this.  As we got closer to an enormous table, each of our 9 chairs were being stood behind by a different server.  In precision usually found in a choreographed ballet, all 9 chairs were pulled out at once and we sat down.  Before purses could hit the floor, small “purse stools” were placed beneath them.   This was luxury at it’s finest and I left like a toothless hillbilly seeing indoor plumbing for the first time.

The 1st thing we were brought was an amuse bouche.  Something to wake up the taste buds before the meal.  A base of yogurt with cucumbers, honey and a few sour elements.  Each of the flavors hit my palette like singers hitting perfect pitch in a beautiful 4-part harmony.  This was Boyz II Men in my mouth.  This was really unlike anything I’ve ever tasted and the meal hadn’t even begun yet.  The next 4 hours (Yes, FOUR HOURS) would be only uphill from here.

Addison Amuse

4 bites. A million flavors. This was the point we realized this meal was going to be something epic.

We ordered the laughably named “4 course menu”.  I say laughably because all told it wound up being about 11 courses of stuff being brought to us over the course of the night.  We all ordered largely different things but we all got to try just about everything so who ordered what will be less specific in this entry.  Just assume everyone had everything they could eat.  1st course offerings included a Sake cured Hamachi (Lime, Uni & Asian Greens).  Chris called it really phenomenal with the best Uni he’s ever had among raves from everyone else who tried it.  I (and our vegetarians) had the Spring Vegetables A la Nage (Parmesan and Extra Virgin Olive Oil).  You would never imagine a dish so simple could be so amazing.  The broth was poured over the vegetables at our table.  The smell of this rich, earthy broth wafted up at me and everyone near me.  It was magical.  The vegetables were slightly crunchy and mildly sweet.  Each flavor was present and prominent.  Full of flavor but still so incredibly light.  This dish was the result of a masterfully delicate hand in it’s preparation.

I could have eaten a gallon of this broth. Amazing work.

I could have eaten a gallon of this broth. Amazing work.

I wanted to take a minute here and recognize Addison’s Wine Director Elizabeth Huettinger.  She not only was able to suggest 2 fantastic wines for the table (a 2013 Chenin Blanc from Jurassic Park Winery and a South African Grenache, which were both fabulous) but she was super engaging, nice and immediately knew how to appeal to our geeky nature.  Plus her wine knowledge and know-how of food pairings was pretty spectacular.  She was awesome.

Before the next course arrived, we were treated to our 1st bread service.  A small ball of Brioche with a melted Rosemary butter cream in the center.  The chef requested that we eat it as a single bite.  Considering, at this point in the meal,  everyone at this table was ready to murder a bus load of orphans if the chef asked, we found following these instructions quite simple.   We all ate it at once and a hush fell over the table.  I just looked up and saw closed eyes and looks of absolute bliss across the table.  I just said “Heaven”, because that’s what the experience of this melt-in-your-mouth bread felt like.  Beautiful salty and sweet, soft & warm textures.  Fantastic.

Bread has no business ever being this delicious. Like, ever.

Bread has no business ever being this delicious. Like, ever.

2nd course offerings included Octopus Grille (Charred tomatillos, garlic and espelette).  Aimee, briefly an actual Japan resident, called it one of the most amazing dishes she’s ever had.  Joey, of actual Japanese heritage, said he’s never had better octopus.  Aimee implored me to break my standing rule that I mentioned right from the get go and try it.   I ate a small piece and it tasted like tender, light white fish.  I’m told this in no way represents the usual texture of octopus and is simply a side effect of the magic that our wizard chef practices on food.  Aimee told me to never try it again because it would simply never be that good again.  This advice, I can follow.  Kelsey had the King Crab (savoy cabbage and shellfish consomme) which she described as amazing and tasted like butter.  The Amy’s had the Red Pepper “Tarte Tatin” (Chevre, black olives and arugula).  The final florish on this dish was the 50 year old Balsamic Vinegar.  Yeah.  50 year old.   Amy B said words fail her to describe the amazing-ness of this dish.  Amy J said the dish was expertly crafted and fantastic.  I had the Caramelized Codfish (Daikon, charred scallions & Dashi).  This was gorgeous piece of fish that was melt-in-your-mouth good with another incredible smelling and tasting broth.  Perfect levels of sweet, savory and salty.

Right around here was where I decided I was never leaving.

Right around here was where I decided I was never leaving.

The third course only got better and better as our proper main courses took the stage.  Salmon au Beurre Sale (beets, apples, fennel and “troisgros” sauce) is possibly the best piece of salmon you’ll ever eat.  Joey praised the perfect temperature and preparation.   Kathy ordered the Coffee Roasted Canard (koshihikari rice and candied peanuts).  Canard is French for “Duck”  (I knew that without looking it up, which I’m sure would make my 11th grade French teacher, Ms. Coyle, very happy.  Provided she’s still alive somewhere.)   It was hugely aromatic.  Kathy loved the toasty elements and thought the texture was incredible.    I ordered the Kobe Beef Short Rib (mushroom gratin and potato croustillant) The sauce on the meat was chocolate fudge-level thick with an amazing impactful flavor.  The meat was tender and rich.  The potatoes were incredible.  Along with the mushrooms, these were great reminders of what we were seeing over and over again throughout this meal:  The simplest ingredients can be the most amazing thing you’ve ever tasted if they are prepared by a skilled enough chef.

You're probably thinking at this point that none of this looks like a lot of food. Trust me, it was the perfect amount by the end of the night.

You’re probably thinking at this point that none of this looks like a lot of food. Trust me, it was the perfect amount by the end of the night.

We had a long way to go still before dessert, so this was the perfect time for the table to enjoy Addison’s Cheese Service.  5 incredible cheeses: Largo: soft, smokey, ashy and creamy with just a hint of sour on the finish.  Ardi Gasna: A little firmer with a tangy, richer but still creamy flavor.  Hafod Cheddar: Bold and strong with a zingy sharpness.  Crystalization from the again process gave it beautiful cripsy and creamy texture.  Cabot Clothbond: soft, rich, earthy and pungent with mouth-filling flavor.  Fourme d’Ambert: a tangy blue with the perfect amount of bitterness, salt and creaminess.  The word “Foodgasm” was dropped more than once in the description of these cheeses.  One unnamed diner even went so far as to say this cheese plate was so good it made her “not want to have babies”.  Well, then.

I felt food drunk after this cheese plate. That's a good thing, btw.

I felt food drunk after this cheese plate. That’s a good thing, btw.

After the full scale assault of this cheese, Addison provided a palette cleanser in the form of a light lemon sorbet with rhubarb.  Kelsey described it as “Like the greatest orange sherbert you’ve ever had”.  She’s right.  It was light, refreshing and sweet.  The tiny slivers of rhubarb gave the dish a perfect tang and crunch.  A perfect in betweener before dessert.

Only the best place on Earth will bring you dessert twice.

Only the best place on Earth will bring you dessert twice.

No one in our group was surprised to find that dessert here was also all sorts of amazing. Among the dishes ordered were Tarte au Chocolat (cherries glacé and pistachios), Vanilla Pot de Creme (wild berry confiture and passion fruit) and what I had for dessert; Galette au Chocolat (mint chip ice cream and chocolate mousse).  The best way to describe this dessert is the fanciest mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich you’ve ever encountered in life.  It was perfect.  Rich, sweet, creamy and beautiful to look at.  The mousse was absolutely perfect.  A dessert so incredible, I didn’t even care that I was eating it at 10pm.

Gold flecks on top bring to mind the image of a disco pimp making it rain in the club right before the food leaves the kitchen and arrives at your table. At least that's what it said to me, your mileage may vary.

Gold flecks on top bring to mind the image of a disco pimp making it rain in the club right before the food leaves the kitchen and arrives at your table. At least that’s what it said to me, your mileage may vary.

Just when Joey said that he couldn’t eat another bite of food, one appeared.  Addison just likes to make absolutely certain that you will forsake all other dining experiences in your life, so they delivered a single Macaron to each of us and it was, of course, perfect.  Sweet, light, cripsy and slightly chewy filling.  Aimee, usually the toughest dessert critic, called it one of the best she’s ever had.

Strong finish to an impossibly flawless meal. I may have dreamed this whole thing.

Strong finish to an impossibly flawless meal. I may have dreamed this whole thing.

Now, in the interest of maintaining my title of “keeper of the real”, I will say that Addison is by no means cheap.  I won’t be so crass as to share the exact amount of our bill but I will say that the 9 of us ate an amount of food equal to purchasing a 2003 Ford Focus (Yes, Chris actually checked the Kelly Blue Book rates on this).  The flipside of this is, this is a once in a lifetime dining experience that I wholeheartedly believe everyone should have at least once.

Chris really put it best; This was different from just a “nice restaurant” but rather food on another level altogether.  It’s not merely cooking but an expression of art.  The team at Addison, led by Executive Chef William Bradley & Chef de Cuisine Anthony Secviar, are artists in the purest sense of the word and their work deserves to be experienced by everyone at least once.

Further reading http://addisondelmar.com

Also, be sure to follow The Boy Who Ate San Diego on Instagram to see all the pictures from this meal and trust me, you WANT to see these pictures.

 

Teri Cafe (23 of 52)

by

The sentiment of “Never judge a book by it’s cover” is truthful, wise and applicable to all areas of life, which is why most people completely ignore it.  I’m guilty of it too.  I’ve refused to even test drive cars because they look angry.  So when it comes to restaurants, I can be a quick judge based on appearance but I always shape my final opinion solely upon the food.  This is why I will eat just about anywhere from “mortgage your house if you want dessert” to “I pray there’s enough alcohol in this beverage to kill whatever’s growing on this glass”.  It’s all good.  Unless it’s not, but I’m getting away from the point here.

Oceanside’s Teri Cafe serves up Japanese/Hawaiian inspired dishes in a cute surrounding with an almost fast food-like method of serving.  You order at a counter, they give you a number for your table, they bring you food.  The place was mobbed (always a good sign).  Luckily we had a smaller group this week consisting of myself & some of the leading ladies of BW8SD:

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

Suzanne-My Italian soul sista, Can throw down in the kitchen, the cultured one who pronounces everything correctly.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn't eat dinner at Trader Joe's.

Contrary to what this picture suggests, we didn’t eat dinner at Trader Joe’s.

Amy was immediately thrilled to see Teri Cafe offers Lilikoi Passion Fruit Drink; a favorite of hers from her time in Hawaii.   With so many Hawaiian inspired choices on the menu, we were surprised to see not a single item on the menu with Spam.  Not that I was sad about this because I’m only just okay with actual ham and don’t do pink, potted, gelatinous food-type items used as props on Monty Python.

Suzanne, the only person in our group who had been here before, had the Beef and Chicken Teriyaki and a shrimp plate served with Miso Soup, green salad and potato salad.   She said the rice was done perfectly and she loved the fact that additional teriyaki sauce is available on the table in a squeeze bottle.  Her beef and chicken were perfectly cooked and well textured with huge portions for a great value.  The potato salad at Teri Cafe has pasta in it.  Yeah, pasta.   While this combining of my two least favorite types of cold salads would be a toasty romp through Satan’s nether regions for yours truly, Suzanne said it was strange but really delicious.  Amy had the Vegetable Yakisoba.  She claimed the Yakisoba is the best she’s had.  The noodles were delicious and the vegetables were not soggy.  The grated ginger on top was a great touch with a pleasing, slightly sweet, sauce.

Aimee ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and Shrimp Tempura, an Aloha Roll, Unagi and Fried Gyoza.  Her tempura was great and the chicken was really good.  The fried gyoza was tasty but she (and I) prefer a softer pan seared style gyoza to the fried crispy kind served here.  Her Aloha Roll (Shrimp Tempura Roll with Tuna & Spicy Mayo) was pretty basic but good.  She praised the lack of “filler” in her sushi.  Good fish with a “no frills” approach.  Not so successful for Aimee was the Unagi (Eel roll).  She felt the dish looked and tasted pre-made.  In comparison to the fresh -tasting Aloha, it was a swing and a miss during what was, otherwise, a very successful meal for her.  I had the Spicy Tuna Roll, which was delicious.  The Tuna was super fresh, which I’m embarrassed to say was a surprise given the fast food-y vibe of this place.  I’m always glad to be proved wrong like this.

I will never doubt you again, food.

I will never doubt you again, food.

The Shrimp Yakisoba wasn’t quite as successful for me.  I found there to be a lot less shrimp and a lot more vegetables.  Plus, some of the shrimp on my plate weren’t properly cleaned.  Granted, these were by no means a deal breaker.  The noodles were tasty and the shrimp were well cooked.  I would be curious to explore more of the menu as it’s affordable and, as Amy pointed out, the portions are generous.

Just use the fork. Don't be a hero.

Just use the fork. Don’t be a hero.

Overall, my experience at Teri Cafe was a positive one and I would certainly come back for lunch or take out.  The menu is pretty extensive and there’s way more stuff to try in future visits (Suzanne highly recommends the Bonzai Ramen Bowl).  So if you’re up in Oceanside and are craving Japanese style take out without spending a fortune, go to this place.

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

You can also see pictures of all the dishes we ordered by following theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!!