Tag Archives: BW8SD

Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria (20 of 52)

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I can be picky about Italian food because I’m Italian.  Sort of.   I grew up in an Italian-American household so the food I had wasn’t necessarily the same food that Italians in Italy would eat but there are certain flavors and tastes that need not be messed with by non-Italians.   Example: The Gravy is what you serve over pasta.  Marinara sauce is what you dip mozzarella sticks in at Denny’s.  Pasta is what you eat in the form of spaghetti and other countless shapes.  Noodles are what comes in a bowl of ramen.  Trivial way of thinking?  Maybe but I’m a quarter Italian and therefore,  kinda think I’m right about everything.  Blame my family.  I do,  it’s fun!  Pizza certainly falls under the “gotta be right” category but I’m also open-minded and like to try different styles of pizza.  I’ve had it in New York and Chicago and I’ve loved both.  This week’s challenge, Blue Ribbon Artisan Pizzeria, leans more towards the wood fired New York style pizza.  I was excited as were my band of fellow tasters:

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

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

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

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

Blue Ribbon

Strong pizza and strong opinions. This is why we do this.

Blue Ribbon, located in Encinitas, is small.  Super small.  They don’t take reservations but they were able to accommodate our large group with no hassle.   We started with some drinks.  Abby had a Fallbrook Winery Merlot.  She called it “effective”.  Chris ordered the Acoustic Ales Blue Ribbon Lager, which he appeared to enjoy.  Most of the rest of us were offered Hard Lemonade.  It’s lemonade with some sort of alcohol in it.  I would love to be able to tell you what precisely it is but our server made no move to answer either time we asked.  That having been said, it was tasty and likewise “effective”.

The massive divide in our opinions started with the appetizers.  Aimee ordered the Spicy Deviled Eggs with with Spicy Calabrian Chili Aioli & Smoked Pimenton Oil.  She found the dish overly spiced and overly priced ($7.50 for 4 halves of egg).  Amy had the Crispy Three Cheese Raviloi with Roasted Tomato Sauce & Parmigiano Reggiano.  I got to try these and they were pretty good.  Nice crispy dumplings in a good sauce.  She also ordered the Wisconsin Black Seed Popcorn with Truffle Salt and Parmesan.  This was house special is unique and highly snackable.   It’s good popcorn even without the extra stuff.   The truffle salt added an earthy flavor.  The parmesan added a mild cheweyness.

WARNING: If your popcorn looks like this and there's no truffle salt on it, it's burned and you've ruined movie night.

WARNING: If your popcorn looks like this and there’s no truffle salt on it, it’s burned and you’ve ruined movie night.

Chris ordered the Whipped Laura Chetel Goat Cheese with Black Mission Figs, Pickled Fennel & Toast.  It was a big hit with most of the table, particularly the goat cheese.   Molly had the Caesar Salad.  She enjoyed the house made garlic dressing.  In place of croutons, they were served ground and sprinkled on top, like breadcrumbs, which she found weird.  The salad is also huge.

This was all well and good but we were here to fight over pizza.  I want to commend this week’s group as we all ordered different style pizzas without even making a conscious decision to do so, which is a nice break from the usual hive mentality we live in.

Abby ordered the Blanca Pizza: Roasted Garlic,  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Sun dried Tomatoes, Capers, Olives & Arugula Pesto.  She thought it was well cooked with strong flavors.  Her favorite being the addition of capers.  Aimee had The Artisan: Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Housemade Spicy Pepperoni, Fennel Sausage, Canadian Bacon & Smoked Sausage.   She found the pizza to be just okay but, again, well below the asking price.  The pepperoni and sausage were massively over spiced, which was a problem present in a few of our pizzas.

Anna ordered the Americana Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Artisan Pepperoni & Gaeta Olives.  She enjoyed it, particularly the strong olives and quality mozzarella cheese.  Amy had the Signature Pizza: Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, Lemon Zest, Red Onion & Basil.  Having eaten here several times, Amy’s pizza was a tried and true favorite of hers.  She loves the lemon olive oil best.  I tried her pizza and it also ranked among my favorites.

Chris ordered the Red Oak Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Ricotta, San Daniele Prosciutto & Arugula.   Chris is also a returning customer to Blue Ribbon and very much enjoyed his pizza.  He’s also a big fan of how well the beers offered pair with the food on the menu.  Suzanne ordered the Staff’s Favorite Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fennel Sausage, Heavy Cream, Parmigiano Reggiano & Basil.  It should be noted that Suzanne is of Italian decent, is from New York City and she spent 3 years living in Italy, so basically if she were a man she’d have a gold medallion with the words PIZZA SNOB nestled in a mountain of chest hair, visible to all from her unbuttoned shirt.  She found the crust to be on point; crispy but not cracker-thin with a nice char.  The cheese was good but the heavy cream added a lasagna-like consistency to her pizza.  The real villain, again, was the sausage.  She found it overpowering yet flavorless at the same time.  “That could’ve been pork or beef, you wouldn’t be able to tell”.  Well, alright.

Molly had the Craftsman Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano & Housemade Spicy Pepperoni.  Like most of us, she found the crust to be skillfully done and tasty but her pizza crumbled beneath the spice of her pepperoni.  I ordered the Classic Pizza: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Fennel Sausage & Crimini Mushrooms.  I thought it was really tasty.  Good crust, the mozzarella was top shelf and well distributed.  The mushrooms were great but the fennel sausage was ridiculously spicy.  Not enough to kill the dish but a big deterrent from me enjoying it more.

PK classic pizza

We are not spice wimps, I swear.

With only two items on the menu, we felt desserts was a must.  The first dessert was a signature dish for Blue Ribbon:  Butterscotch Pudding with Sea Salted Caramel & Fresh Whipped Cream.  Anna, Amy, Chris and I loved it.  Molly said it was the 2nd best of it’s kind she’d had after Haven in Pasadena.  I thought it was divine and the perfect size for following a large meal like pizza.  Aimee was not a fan.   She felt the dish lacked texture and just felt like a “butterscotch slime”

PK butterscotch

and here I was thinking I couldn’t love anything from a mason jar that wasn’t moonshine…

The other dessert was the Peanut Butter Crunch with Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pudding, Caramel, Pretzels & Whipped Cream.  I enjoyed this one as well but not as much as the butterscotch.  Abby and I both found the peanut butter to be a little muted in its flavor.  Several folks at the table took issue with the “Crunch” portion of the dish.  The pretzels tasted a little stale and would’ve been better served with chocolate on top instead of hiding at the bottom.

PK PB crunch

If the Butterscotch Pudding is unable to fulfill its duties as favorite dessert, Peanut Butter Crunch will be crowned the winner.

Overall impressions of Blue Ribbon were mixed.  Chris and Amy were already fans so they’d come back.  Aimee and Suzanne both said the service was less than stellar and I’m inclined to agree.  They restaurant was busy but we found the wait staff and bartenders to be less than helpful about menu knowledge, refills, etc.  The food was good enough that I would go back at a less busy time, like lunch, for a second opinion.

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

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

 

Prep Kitchen (19 of 52) (CLOSED)

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There are only two terms used to describe getting drunk during breakfast:  Relapse or brunch.  Fortunately this week’s entry only covers the latter.  Though should I decide it’s all too much to go on living, please look for The Boy who Drank San Diego in 2015!  The thought of trying the much talked-about brunch at Prep Kitchen made me and my merry band of food lovers downright giddy.  Joining me on this quest were all first timers!

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

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

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

Joey-Future music professor, Saceraz 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

Matt-My co-star in “Five Course Love”, Runner, Lover of beer

Stephanie-Blogger, runner, fellow Disneyland enthusiast

You have no idea how hard we resisted posing on the staircase and calling it "The Brady Brunch". No idea...

You have no idea how hard we resisted posing on the staircase and calling it “The Brady Brunch”. No idea…

Located in the trendy San Diego neighborhood of Little Italy, Prep Kitchen is a 2nd-level, open-air place with lots of unique decor and charm.  The catchphrase a lot of places like to use lately is “Farm to table”.  At Prep Kitchen, this is less a buzzword and more a way of life.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  First up was the Coffee bar, which you could partake of for a dollar.  Yep.  One dollar.  Also available for a few more bucks were tasty muffins with a variety of jams and toppings.   The coffee bar is a really cool concept.   You could refill your coffee when needed self-serve style without having to flag down a server for refills.  The cup handles were a little weird in that they were very small.  Watching Durwood get his fingers repeatedly stuck in the handles made for some great entertainment.

There was no way in hell my crew was going to do brunch without sampling some of the cocktails (not doing so is an act of gay treason that would certainly get me dis-invited from the weekly meetings at Anderson Cooper’s Palm Springs compound)  Amy ordered the Mure et Bulles: Blackberry Calvados Liquer & Bubbles.  She also had the Red Wine Sangria, both of which she said were really good.  Matt had the house made Bloody Mary, which he said was awesome with a perfect amount of spice, even the salt on the rim had some spice to it.  Joey ordered the London’s Burning: Gin, Jalapeno, Avocado and Lime.  He said it was spicy but lacking in Gin botanicals (which was a disappointment for him).  The drink was interesting but he probably wouldn’t order it again but he would like to marinate some flank steak in it because that’s just how his brain works: How else can I consume this?  Stephanie & Aimee had the White wine Sangria, which they loved and deemed a great start to the meal.  Jackie, Stephanie and I all ordered the Cucumber Honey Mimosa, which we all really loved.  It was refreshing and delicately sweet.  Chris had a Boulder Beer Company Shake Chocolate Porter which he enjoyed and foolishly tried to get me to like.  Sorry beer, it’s not you, it’s me.  I don’t like you.

Before the main courses we ordered some of the house-made donut holes.  These were a big hit. Soft, warm, fresh and sweet with a tang that either came from lemon zest or ricotta cheese.   The taste and texture reminded a few of us more of a fritter than a donut but they were super tasty and I certainly wasn’t opposed to dipping them in the Dulche de Leche sauce that came with the muffins.  Fat kid innovation at it’s finest.

Look at them. Just sitting there daring you to eat just one...

Look at them. Just sitting there daring you to eat just one…

When you love eating there is a certain romance that begins between you and good food over the course of a meal.  We had been wined (quite literally) and politely dined but Prep Kitchen leaned in and made their proverbial move in what we tried next.  One of the specialties of their breakfast menu is poppy seed pancakes with strawberries, rhubarb whipped cream and almond crumble.  Our server dropped these at the table for us to try with the confidence and swagger of an MC dropping the mic after a freestyle battle.

Wow.  Just, wow.

Light, fluffy pancakes.  Strawberries in their actual, natural form.  The rhubarb whipped cream was incredible and the almond crumble gave a flavor and texture that made this unlike any plate of pancakes any of us had ever tried.  The most shocking part:  They are served without syrup and THEY DON’T EVEN NEED IT.  Seriously.  Go for these alone.  They are awesome.

Simple, fresh breakfast perfection.

Simple, fresh breakfast perfection.

Aimee had Steak & Eggs: Hangar steak with herb butter, 2 scrambled eggs, hash browns and wheat toast.  She said her steak was perfect & tender.  She absolutely loved the herbed butter and her eggs were also perfect.  Durwood had the Pork & Sage Sausage Scramble with Fontina cheese and butternut squash.   This was another big hit.  Durwood said it was an incredible blend of sweet and savory flavors.  The true mark of a great restaurant is you won’t find salt or pepper on the table.  It’s a show of confidence in the chef’s ability to season his/her own dishes to perfection.    They were nowhere to be found on our table and it was easy to see why.  None of our dishes needed seasoning.    Matt had the Chaquiles: Chipotle-braised chicken, Avocado, Onion, Queso Fresco & 2 sunny-side-up eggs.  We would later learn from the chef that this dish began as a staff meal that became so popular it was added to the menu.  A few folks said it lived up to the hype.  Matt would’ve liked more chicken but said the tortillas were perfect and he’s excited to try it again with different style eggs in the future.

Amy went with the “Choose your own scramble”:  She combined Brie with wild mushrooms, spinach and truffle oil.  She was really pleased with the results and also enjoyed the crispiness of her potatoes.   Joey also choose his own scramble and added sausage, asparagus, wild mushrooms and Gouda.    It met his expectations and he enjoyed it very much.  He and Kelsey ordered some sausage a’ la carte.  While he would’ve preferred a bit more fat in the side sausage, he enjoyed the sausage in his scramble more.  Stephanie also ordered the “Choose your own” scramble, adding Spinach, Avocado & Wild Mushrooms.  She said it was delicious and the accompanying salsa was phenomenal.  As someone who orders more on the healthy side, she appreciated not having to ask for wheat toast as it came automatically (I gotta co-sign on that, as a Diabetic, I can’t do a lot of white breads so it was a delightful surprise with my meal)

Jackie ordered the Smoked Salmon Benedict: Poached eggs, Arugula, hash browns & Dill Hollandaise.  She loved the inventive use of a hash brown patty with her Benedict.  The poach on her eggs was perfect and the hollandaise was light.  A well-balanced dish.  Chris ordered the WNL Burger: Gruyere, Applewood smoked Bacon, caramelized Onions & farm egg.  He’d heard about this burger and was eager to try it.  He said it was the bomb, even going so far as it call it “The best burger in San Diego”.  Quality bacon on the burger, which is of utmost importance!  While it’s a bit on the pricey side ($18) Chris seemed very pleased with his decision to try it.  Kelsey & Anna had the Ricotta stuffed French Toast with Blackberry Syrup & mint with a side of pork sausage.  This would be the other sleeper hit of the table.  They both thought the french toast was outstanding.  Anna said they were perfect without going overboard on the stuffing.  Surprisingly light but sweet.  She claimed it the best French Toast she’s had.

As for me,  I ordered the Wild Mushroom Omelet with Brie artisan ham, leeks and black truffle oil.  I really loved it.  It had so much rich but light flavor.  The brie brought a buttery note to the meal and the tender mushrooms sang with the black truffle oil.  The potatoes on the side needed absolutely no seasoning.  The wheat toast kept the dish in check.  Totally satisfying.

They know the way to my heart because they led with Brie.

They know the way to my heart because they led with Brie.

After the spectacular showing on the previous courses, it seemed almost silly to leave without trying some of the desserts.  Matt had the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato, which he said was so good, this is a direct quote now: “My mouth never wants to touch my wife again”.  Stephanie was unavailable for comment but I commend Prep Kitchen’s desserts for ruining a 3-week old marriage.  Aimee ordered the Berry Shortcake with Brulee lemon poundcake.  It was incredible.  I don’t even know how in the hell you brulee a poundcake but it had a great crispy coating on it.  Superbly fresh berries and just a touch of mint made for an amazing dessert.  Aimee branded this dish reason enough to come back.

Cake + Fire = Love

Cake + Fire = Love

One of the most interesting (and necessary) options on the menu at Prep Kitchen is the “Kitchen 6’r”, where you can purchase a round of beers for the kitchen.  I guess they felt this was a better idea than customers wandering back there and the kitchen staff getting awkwardly long tearful hugs from grateful strangers while they’re trying to do their jobs.  We bought two rounds for the staff.

So the bar has been set impossibly high on this challenge I’ve set up for myself.  Prep Kitchen managed to deliver everything they promised and then some.  It’s quite a feat to keep this rowdy group of foodies quiet at a table but they got us.  And we’ll all be going back so they can get us again and again.

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

Also, check out pics from all of my adventures on this challenge by following theboywhoatesandiego on Instagram!

Cafe Japengo (18 of 52) (CLOSED)

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The culinary arts, much like college, are a breeding ground for experimentation.  At whatever point in history it happened, some forward-thinking person decided food “A” needed to be combined with food “B” and BOOM!  The “food fusion” was born.  Not to be confused with the “Ford Fusion”, which is far less tasty and far more expensive than the meal in this week’s challenge.  Located in the swanky hills of La Jolla, Cafe Japengo is serving up Japanese fusion, cool cocktails and adventure.  The “adventure” part really only happens if you try to go to this restaurant without using the valet to park.  We wound up parking in the nearby Hyatt hotel parking lot, riding up several elevators and gate crashing at least 3 private events en route to Cafe Japengo.   But I did it, joined by my fearless “Charlie’s Angels” trio of ladyfriend dining companions:

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

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

Mandy-Writer, Top-shelf level geek girl, lives in my pocket

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Don’t let the calm looking demeanor fool you, inside these people are sushi fiends screaming for satisfaction.

The look of Japengo is cool and upscale with a heapin’ helping of hip.  We were eager to get started with some appetizers and cocktails.  Mandy ordered the Sakura Blossom: Hibiki Japanese Whisky,  Sake, Plum wine and bitters.  She mentioned the whisky was a bit heavy handed but the cockatil had a very pleasing sweet note on the back end.  Aimee (the only person in our group to have lived in Japan for a short spell) ordered a Meibo Sake, which she said was excellent.

The appetizers that were ordered included the Curry Dusted Calamari with Thai Lime Vinaigrette, chuka salad and grapes (not a typo. IT’S FUSION, PEOPLE!).   Kelsey called the Calamari good but unevenly seasoned.   She found the grapes to be a very nice surprise.    Aimee also found the calamari unevenly seasoned but the crispy noodles and grapes were nice.   Mandy confirmed a unanimous ruling that the calamari was unevenly seasoned with a bit too much breading for her.

I have absolutely no interest in Calamari so I ordered an appetizer that sounded delicious and definitely stood out for it’s “WTF-ness”.  Truffled Nori Fries with parmesan & furikaki with garlic aioli and wasabi mayo.  This was undoubtedly the biggest stretch on the menu as far as things that barely qualified as Asian but they sounded too good to pass up.    I found them tasty and aromatic with great sauces.  Creamy, rich, spicy and perfectly sized.   While they found them an odd addition to the menu, Aimee and Mandy both agreed the fries were very good.

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Proof that “Delicious” will always trump “Authentic”

Main courses were next.  Kelsey and Aimee both ordered the Char-Siu roasted Duck with local market vegetables, Karobuta Bacon, house made Plum Sauce and 3 Bao buns.  Kelsey said the duck was good but felt 3 Bao wasn’t enough as the portions are most certainly sized for sharing.  Aimee praised the duck and it’s sauce as “perfect”.  The side vegetables were also great.

I ordered Vietnamese Pork with Harusame Noodles, jalapeno, asparagus, mint, grilled eggplant, portabello mushroom & Hoisin.  It was friggin’ delicious.  Tender pork, so full of bold savory flavors.  I loved the sauce and mix of textures added by the asparagus and eggplant.  The noodles were also great.  The whole dish was a winner.

The only thing I have to remember this awesome dinner by as my leftovers were unceremoniously thrown out when someone at my work decided to clean out the fridge. At 9am. Yes, I am still pissed about it...

The only thing I have to remember this awesome dinner by as my leftovers were unceremoniously thrown out when someone at my work decided to clean out the fridge. At 9am. Yes, I am still pissed about it…

We were all also eager to try Japengo’s sushi, so we each ordered some rolls.

Sushi. The most perfect food ever? Y/Y ?

Sushi. The most perfect food ever? Y/Y ?

Kelsey ordered the Fifty/Fifty roll: crab and cucumber on the inside with rice, fresh salmon and yellowtail finished with thin slices of lemon, green onion and ponzu sauce.   Kelsey and Mandy both found the roll good but the lemon slice has got to go.  Too overpowering.  I ordered the Pizza Roll: crab and smoked salmon rolled in rice baked with a crab garlic mayo.  While I’m normally not a fan of baked sushi rolls, I wanted to try it because it seemed like a unique idea.  It was good and had a nice flavor but the baking process did leave each piece with a slightly tough texture.  Aimee ordered her favorite sushi stand-by, Unagi (Eel handrolls).  She said it was good but there’s better Unagi to be found in the city.

Mandy learned all about classic sushi from working in an authentic sushi bar in Massachusetts, so her review of Japengo’s sushi was well-informed and critical.  She ordered the Salmon Nigiri, Spider Roll (Softshell Crab), the Special Albacore Roll (a Shrimp Tempura roll with seared albacore & avocado, finished with Ponzu Masago).  She explained that it’s a personal pet peeve of hers when San Diego sushi restaurants add crab surimi to every roll with the purpose of padding the roll and increasing the price.  She feels it takes away from the flavor of the fish and detracts from the overall quality of the sushi.  Mandy did, however, find the salmon to be fresh and clean cut.   She added that the Spider Roll could use more softshell and less Surimi.

Overall, we felt that while the sushi was not the high point of the meal, the other dishes and drinks made up for it.  Cafe Japengo is a really nice place to go in La Jolla for some solid Asian fusion.

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



The Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant (17 of 52)

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Contrary to popular belief, some of the oldest things in San Diego can be found outside La Jolla and Del Mar.  One of San Diego’s earliest settlers, Juan Lorenzo Bandini, decided he needed the biggest house in the new city, so in 1829 he made that happen.  The result was a Spanish colonial-style joint with seven rooms, an entrance hall, an enclosed courtyard, a corral, and several sheds and barns for his sprawling family of 4.  I would also imagine he either had horses or his wife resembled Sarah Jessica Parker.  In 1869, Bandini’s house became the Cosmopolitan Hotel.  Then in 1900 it was an olive canning factory until 1928 when Bandini’s Grandson bought it and restored it, not to his Grandfather’s vision of a comfortable family home but back to the much more profitable Cosmopolitan Hotel complete with modern amenities such as wired electricity, gas and Wifi.  Now the building remains one of the oldest standing structures in the city and it really is beautiful.  My friends and I had to take a foot tour after dinner and I highly recommend you do the same.  Though purportedly haunted, no ghosts joined us for dinner to regail us with tawdry tales from the olive canning industry.

Speaking of tawdry, joining me for dinner were:

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

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

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

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We ain’t afraid of no ghosts. Just keep the drinks coming.

One of the best parts to the Cosmopolitan is it’s outdoor bar.  Amy enjoyed a glass of Gainey Riesling, which she called “Delicious, sweet without being too sweet and lots of fruit”.  The bartender was fun and the happy hour looked cool.  We were soon led in to the dining room.  We had lots of time to enjoy the decor as we were the only table in it.  It gave the whole affair an eerie feel.

4.30 (2)

Private dining room! Just us, our server and a painting of a lion that looks like Hal Holbrook!

The Cosmopolitan is big and impressive but it is with great sadness that I deliver the bad news:

This was the worst meal I’ve had since starting this challenge.

 

I feel terrible about this because I wanted so badly to like it.  I’m speaking specifically of my main course, but we’ll get to that in a moment.  Abby ordered the “Biggest Toad in the Puddle”; Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Triple Sec, Lime juice & Cherry Bitters.  It was good but so not my thing.  A lot of the drinks at The Cosmopolitan stay away from sweetness, which I love.  Amy ordered the Pineapple Mint Cosmo (The special Cosmo of the month) which said was “Delicious and refreshing without being too sweet”.  Aimee ordered a “Razzmapolitan”; Chambord, Vodka, Lime juice, cranberry & mixed seasonal berries.  She said it was excellent.  The bar overall got high marks from us.  They pour heavy, use quality booze and the value is good.

In place of rolls, The Cosmopolitan provides “Cheese Puffs” with fig butter.  They were light and warm.  A great mix of salty and sweet.  For appetizers,   Aimee ordered the Kung Pao Calamari, which she really enjoyed.  Great sauce and most of all, they fry up and serve the entire squid bodies, which is unusual.   Amy had the Rustico bruschetta, with herbed goat cheese and chimmichurri sauce.  This sauce was the highlight of the whole dish for Amy.   Abby had the Braised Pork Cheeks.  With caramelized onions, crispy onions and a merlot reduction.   She enjoyed the almost beef wellington-ish style of the cooking.   For my appetizer, I ordered the Ahi Lettuce Cups with ginger, julienne vegetables, garlic in baby iceberg lettuce cups.  I found it refreshing and zesty but nothing Earth shattering.  The jalapenos on top were a bit much.

Enjoy. It's down hill from here...

Enjoy. It’s down hill from here…

Amy took another one for the team and had another cocktail, purely in the interest of journalistic thoroughness.  She ordered the The Stagecoach Smash; bourbon, honey, ginger beer, fruit and champagne.  She said it was delicious.   Dinner held much promise as many of the things on the Cosmopolitan’s menu sounded super yummy.  Chief among them was what Aimee and Durwood both had; Fried Chicken and churros with bacon jalapeno infused maple syrup.   While this sounds like heaven, the result was less than Godly.  The plate comes with different cuts of chicken.  Aimee’s plate had a breast, wing and drumstick.  She said the breast was really good but the wing & drumstick were both dry.  The syrup was not overpowering and the churros (served trapped under the chicken) were good but she couldn’t enjoy them together.   Durwood gave the dish high marks for concept but came to the conclusion that the chicken was not home made but frozen.  I trust him because those people know their fried chicken.  By “those people”, I of course mean Southerners.   He also found himself wanting more syrup.  His dinner included a thigh but no breast.  This launched us into a very long discussion about how odd it is, on the part of the restaurant, to not include the same cuts on the same dish.

Abby had the homemade gnocchi with pan seared scallops, cherry tomatoes, asparagus and chimichurri sauce.  She loved the light char on the gnocchi and said the scallops were tender, buttery and perfectly cooked.  The chimichurri sauce added a great fresh element.  Amy ordered the promising grilled peach and strawberry salad with roasted almonds, a fried goat cheese ball and raspberry vinaigrette.  While Amy said the peaches were delicious, the goat cheese was best and necessary to cut the sweetness of the strawberries and the dressing.  She found the salad very unbalanced.  While it wasn’t bad in her estimation, she wouldn’t order it again.

Harry had the espresso braised short ribs with pan-fried garlic brussels sprouts, herbed marble potato and natural au jus.  He praised the meat for being perfectly fork tender with an added bonus of nostalgia, as the flavor of it brought him back to the beef jerky his Dad used to make.   Side dishes that we shared included a greasy cornbread and crispy brussels sprouts with a balsamic glaze and goat cheese, which was everyone’s absolute favorite.

For my dinner, I had the herb crusted pork chop with confit baby red potatoes, sauteed spinach, edamame succotash, roasted corn and a taragon cream sauce.  Everything about it was awful.  Everything.  The succotash was mostly mushy black beans, there was barely any corn on the plate.  The “baby potatoes” were cooked whole and about the size of two baseballs.  The breading on the pork chop was absolutely flavorless.  The cut of meat was awful; fatty, overcooked and completely bland.  It was a horrible mesh of luke warm crispy, chewy, mushy, muddled mess on a plate.  Total disappointment.

You had one job, dinner. That job was to be delicious. You have failed.

You had one job, dinner. That job was to be delicious. You have failed.

I wanted to order dessert, because really, for me, there was no place to from here but up.  Amy ordered the seasonal berry cobbler.  It’s huge and it has to be ordered a la mode due to the tartness and the fact that it’s served at a temperature to rival the inside of an active volcano.  We also shared the caramelized banana cheesecake, which we all found a little weird.  It wasn’t particularly sweet but the caramelized banana was tasty.   Aimee, Durwood and I all ordered the fried ice cream.  A cool concept but the reality isn’t as impressive.  It’s a baseball-sized ball of vanilla ice cream that just tastes like it’s coated in granola.  Not a high note to end on.

My dessert and the thing that made Durwood the 2nd most overdressed thing at our table.

My dessert and the thing that made Durwood the 2nd most overdressed thing at our table.

So, to be fair, while my dinner was horrible, the reviews from everyone else were not as bad.  I’m not saying I would never go back to the Cosmopolitan but aside from the historical interest, solid service, friendly staff and good outdoor bar, I can’t imagine I’ll be headed back there any time soon.

Further reading: http://oldtowncosmopolitan.com/restaurant.html

 

El Pollo Grill (16 of 52)

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People from San Diego never need to be asked twice to brag about where they live.  Most never need to be asked but those who brag will almost always talk about how our Mexican food is better than anywhere else in the country.  A select few will even argue that certain parts of San Diego have better Mexican food than other parts of San Diego.  An even select-er few will argue that we have better Mexican food than Mexico does but those people might be missing the point.  The truth can be boiled down to this: short of going to Mexico (a staggering 20 minute trip from my front door), San Diego has the best Mexican food.  Now, I’m not talking about high end Mexico-fusion dining or trendy molecular gastronomy versions of a burrito-type places.  I’m talking the classic, hole-in-the-wall, cash-only, bars-on-the-windows, they-need-to-go-get-the-one-lady-who-speaks-kinda-okay-English-to-take-your-order, neon-painted-lettering-that-covers-the-windows and has-Horchata-on-tap type place AKA THE BEST FOOD EVER.  When it’s 2am and you are knee-walking drunk, this is the place your friends take you to for food that will hug your soul.  It’s the place you take out-of-towners to for a life-changing experience that we who live here all had:  The day you discovered what real SoCal Mexican food is.  THAT’S the shit worth bragging about.

Naturally, when I set out on this quest, I was inundated with suggestions for local Mexican joints from local friends.  I had to choose carefully, but honestly it’s hard to go wrong with these kinds of places.  This week’s challenge was El Pollo Grill in Lemon Grove, which is NOT to be confused with fast food chain El Pollo Loco.  I love Mexican food and I love chicken so this was a labor of love for yours truly and my loyal dining 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

Mike & Marjy-The package deal, a pair of my favorite foodies who once served me cake on a stick in the snowy mountains (true story)

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“Blanco: Party of Five…”

El Pollo Grill is a down-home “elbows on the table” type joint but is certainly not high on the sketch-o-meter of Mexican places I’ve been to, locally.  Good food is good food so I don’t judge.  I’m not a big fan of chicken on the bone.  I will eat it but prefer not to.  Fortunately, El Pollo Grill offers a myriad of others way to get your chicken on.  I took advantage of a few of them and left the chicken mauling to my cohorts.  Aimee ordered the half chicken dinner, which came with tortillas, rice & beans.  She also had a fish taco on the side.  She said the chicken was juicy and well seasoned with a great crispy skin.  Something she (and everyone else who ordered it) found odd was the choice of beans.  Rather than the usual refried or black beans, El Pollo Grill serves pinto beans.  While they were not badly prepared, Aimee mentioned she would have preferred refried beans with her dinner.  Her grilled fish taco was really good with a fantastic sauce.

Chris ordered the “Special C” (also his break dancing name back in ’84): 4-piece combo with rice, beans and tortillas.  Chris enjoyed his meal but found it a little plain.  When he eats white meat chicken, which is rare, he finds it a bit dry.  Such was the case here, even though he admitted the chicken itself had excellent flavor.  He is also not a fan of pinto beans.

Mike and Marjy shared the 12 piece grilled chicken with rice, beans and corn tortillas.  They also ordered a side of jalapeno carrots.  They agreed with Chris on both counts that their chicken was flavorful but a bit on the dry side (which is admittedly better than being undercooked).  Marjy smartly pointed out that the true test of any Mexican place is the quality of their beans and/or rice and both were great with moist tortillas, which is important.  Mike also added that the Horchata (A sweet, rice-based drink) was on point.

I ordered 3 a’ la carte dishes: 5 rolled tacos, a chicken quesadilla and Pollo Asado Fries.  The rolled tacos, served with house made guacamole, were crispy, fresh and flavorful.  The chicken was a bit dry but the flavors were damned near perfect compared to some other rolled tacos I’ve had.  The pollo asado fries were shoes string-cut french fries covered in marinated chicken, guacamole, sour cream and a massive layer of shredded cheese.  Something like this would’ve been akin to food of the Gods back in my heavier drinking days.  The me of today enjoyed the burst of flavors on this shareable plate of goodness.  The food here is kind of large…

Greasy happiness by the plateful. and we grateful.

Greasy happiness by the plateful. and we grateful.

Which brings me to the quesadilla.  It was huge.  Like, the size of a newborn.  I had no idea there was going to be so much food or I would have most certainly scaled back my order.  Full of chicken and rich cheese, this quesadilla had more of a Mexican Calzone feel to it but it was really good.

I would show something next to it for scale but everything on the table was hidden underneath it.

I would show something next to it for scale but everything on the table was hidden underneath it.

Overall feelings on El Pollo Grill were positive.  We all agreed that the place was a great value.  Tons of big food at a great price.  I got 3 meals for barely more than $20.  While nothing was Earth shattering we all agreed that it would be a fantastic choice for a place to take out-of-towners for their first taste of “real Mexican food”.  I say thumbs up, hit it up if you’re in the area for a good lunch or dinner.

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

 

Chart House (14 of 52)

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San Diego, it can be argued, has the greatest weather on planet Earth.  We also have some of the best beaches in Southern California.  There’s truly nothing better than being able to enjoy our weather and scenic waterside views while enjoying a fine meal.

Which makes the fact that it was cold and cloudy with a thick horror movie-style fog a bit of a let down but it’s not snow so I’m not complaining.

Chart House, located in Cardiff, boasts an amazing ocean front dining experience.  Tables RIGHT by the window, which are RIGHT by the ocean.  It mimics the experience of eating a full course dinner right on the beach, only without the seagulls, wind blowing sand in your mouth and men in upsetting speedos trying to take pictures of you in your skivvys.

This picture isn't in black and white.

This picture isn’t in black and white.

With a still impressive view for dinner, my companions and I were very much looking forward to seeing what Chart House had to offer.  Joining me this go-round were:

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

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This is my “excited about food” face. Harry is serving up late 1800’s expressionless pioneer portrait realness.

The menu, while mostly seafood, was loaded with traditional stuff.  One definitely got the impression that this is a place you take out-of-towners who want a slightly upscale version of stuff they already know and like.  Not that I have a problem with that.  Good food is good food but I felt like there weren’t a whole lot of unique offerings on the menu.  Armed with this knowledge, I opted to skip the crab cakes (a tried and true favorite) and instead order the Artichoke Three Ways.  Artichoke hearts are showcased 3 ways; Panko breaded, Fire roasted  and bacon wrapped.  You know sometimes you’ll go to a concert to see a particular band and the opening act turns out to be amazingly brilliant?  The headliner was good too but all you kept talking about on the ride home is how you’re now the opener’s biggest fan ever?  Same concept applies here.

They were having a three way right there on the table. In front of everyone! Artichokes are such whores.

They were having a three way right there on the table. In front of everyone! Artichokes are such whores.

This was seriously the best part of the whole night.  We all loved it.  The panko crusted artichokes were my favorite.  Crispy with a delicious aioli.  Aimee enjoyed the fact that they were not oily.  The roasted artichokes were beautifully done and brought out a mild sweet flavor.  The bacon wrapped, while a strong concept, were not the best part of the dish but hardly a misfire.

Harry began with the “Best of Soup”; Tasting portions of clam chowder, lobster bisque & gazpacho.  He admitted that he was least excited about trying the gazpacho but was loved it’s almost bloody Mary-type flavor.   I ordered a bowl of the Lobster Bisque, a favorite of mine.  It  was pretty standard but well done.  Buttery and rich with a nice saltiness.  A little on the heavy side but certainly tasty.

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Warm and smooth. Like a sexy, yet reaffirming, hug from a dead lobster.

For his main course, Harry ordered Savory Scallops & Cucumber Salad, served with a cauliflower mash and cucumber vinaigrette salad.  He said the scallops were cooked perfectly with a largely forgettable sauce but the real star here was the cauliflower mash.  Light and refreshing while staying super tasty.   Aimee had the “New Wave Surf & Turf”: fork tender short ribs with Cabernet demi-glace paired with seared scallops in ginger soy sauce, served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes.  She added an additional side of Saffron orzo.  She also agreed that her scallops were perfectly cooked (You people and your scallops.  I can’t.)  She loved the ginger soy sauce, especially the fact that it did not overpower the delicate flavor of the scallops.  Her short ribs were tender and juicy but the positive notes ended there.  She felt her mashed potatoes were just “meh” and the Saffron orzo tasted and looked like it had been a reheated leftover.  Yikes.

I ordered the Garlic Panko Crusted Tilapia (Did I mention I will eat just about anything with panko on it?  Except scallops.  We’ve been over this.)  I thought the fish had great flavor.  I loved the taste and texture added by the panko.  It was served over a bed of creamed spinach.  I don’t know if that was the best decision because for me it gave the dish a real heaviness but the flavors were totally on point.  Super tasty.

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Saucy and rich. Same way I likes my men.

For dessert, we were pressured into ordering the Hot Chocolate Lava Cake.  You see, they bake these little beauties to order but it takes 30 minutes so we had to hastily make the decision at the beginning of the meal.  Like all the smartest people, I err on the side of fat kid, so I ordered the dessert.  The cake features Godiva chocolate liquor in the center & Heath bar crumble on top.  It was sweet yet mild and we all kind of loved the choice of toffee in place of nuts.

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Pretty but it’s what it was on the inside that counts.

Overall this was a good meal.  The place was beautiful, the staff was nice and they were able to accommodate us 2 hours early.  We even saw a dolphin.  In the water, not like at the bar or anything.  Harry and I both agreed that this would be a great place to take a date.  I would frankly come back for the artichokes alone.  That in itself is a sentence I never thought I’d say ever in life, so I commend Chart House for making that possible.

 

Further reading http://www.chart-house.com/locations/cardiff/

 

Muzita Bistro (13 of 52)

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Sometimes at dinner, as with in life, a curve ball is thrown your way and a sudden change of plans happens resulting in an unexpected and delightful adventure.  Whether it be getting lost in a foreign land, learning your new lover is a distant relative or a bachelor party that ends with burying a dead hooker in the Nevada desert.  Learn to expect the unexpected to live your best Oprah-approved life.  So let’s say you and 10 close friends were planning on visiting a hot new San Diego Southern Americana restaurant only to discover an empty place with a note on the door.

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I was going to brand this apology empty and meaningless, until I saw the “truly”, then I felt bad.

With this unexpected left turn, Aimee had already scoped out possible alternative restaurants that were nearby, in the same price range and met the one requirement of this challenge: I’ve never been there.  After a quick group vote, we wound next door at Muzito’s Abyssinian Bistro.  They were super awesome about getting our group in without a reservation and packed us like cattle in the back 40 of the rather small restaurant.  Testing fate with this sudden new adventure with me 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

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

Christine-Singer, puppet enthusiast, Sit next to her at a wedding.  You’ll thank me.

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villian

Kevin-SoCal Rocky Horror legend, IT wunderkind, Owns a Shakeweight for sheer entertainment value

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

Mandy-Writer, Top-shelf level geek girl, lives in my pocket

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

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

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Only the closest friends can share food with no utensils in places other than prison.

The interior of Muzita was small but charming and romantic.  Great date night spot.  The servers were friendly and super knowledgeable about the food.  They didn’t even laugh when we demolished the names of EVERYTHING.  Muzita specializes in Ethiopian (or Abyssinian for you OG’s) food.  The menu is full of meaty as well as vegetarian and vegan choices.  For starters, some cocktails were had.  David ordered the mule (a popular and refreshing highball mixed drink of vodka and ginger beer) which he enjoyed.  Christine enjoyed the Mango Martini and Amy ordered two different African beers; a Hakim Stout, which she described as a “sweeter version of Newcastle” and a Tusker Lager, hilariously named for the elephant that killed one of the breweries founders.  I can’t make this shit up, y’all.  The food was all brought to us family style and encouraged to be eaten by hand on Injera, which is is a sourdough-risen flat bread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour (amesege’nallo’, wikipedia!)

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The cover of this plate was originally worn by Marlo Thomas in a particularly offensive episode of “Kung Fu”*
*I just made that up

Since everything was spread out on our giant plate, I’ll just list off what all we had: Shiro (Eritrean Style Seasoned Ground Chickpeas), Hamli (Braised Spinach & Collard Greens), Beggie Kilwa (Sautéed New Zealand Leg Of Lamb), Prawn Kilwa (Mess Marinated Prawns with House Herb Blend White Wine Awaze Sauce), Timtimo (Spicy red split lentils), Caulo (Braised Green cabbage) and Alitcha Atakilti (Steamed seasonal vegetables)

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Eaten traditional style with each bite of food wrapped in a piece of what Suzanne describes as an “Organic Shamwow”

This was an immensely satisfying dining experience.  There was so much going on on this plate.  An literal explosion of flavors with sweet richness and spice.  The lentils were fantastic with a strong showing from the lamb and the HUGE prawns on the plate.  One of the most popular items was the cabbage.  More than a few folks listed it as their favorite.

Aimee enjoyed the interactive nature of eating family style and said the cabbage was “The business”.  She is dedicated to figuring out how to duplicate the recipe.  David (the only person in the group who had been here before) loved the chicken and has always been a fan of “eating with an ACE bandage”.  Amy enjoyed the tastes and textures of the vegetables.  She also loved the cabbage and enjoyed the selection of beers, many of which she’d never heard of.  Kevin was able to get his food modified spice-wise but would tone down the onions in the future.  Christine enjoyed the flavor and lack of fattyness of her lamb.  She also loved the cabbage, an ordinarily “Humble” vegetable’s chance to shine here.

Suzanne found everything perfectly cooked with a great delicate sauce.  She officially branded the cabbage the “hidden gem” of this place with perfectly balanced sweetness.  Did I mention folks loved this damn cabbage?  Brad said the spice level of his dinner was perfect.  He loved the tenderness of the meat and was a big fan of the lentils.  Ky was happy (as was I) to see jalapenos added to the lamb for extra heat.  She admitted that this meal was her first time ever having lentils and she loved them.  Sean, while skeptical at first, said everything was delicious with great spice.  Mandy also loved the flavors without the spice getting out of hand in each dish.  She also praised the lentils.

Our server told us that there are no Ethiopian desserts (no wonder they always stay so fabulously thin!  Yeah, I’m going to hell for that one) but Muzita does offer a few dishes that look a bit more familiar to the less worldly palette.  Folks shared the Kahlua Chocolate Cake, which I had a bite of and it was moist, delicious and generously portioned.  Kevin announced that this cake was his favorite part of the meal “But I’m biased because i’m fat”.

With that our near-disaster last minute change of venue paid off beautifully.  We managed to find a great new place with outstanding food.  I love that I’ve lived here for 16 years and I can still discover new places like this.  Thanks to my dining companions for being so adventurous with me.  I will for sure be back.

Further reading: http://www.letseat.at/muzita

333 Pacific (12 of 52)

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The city of Oceanside, while technically not in San Diego proper but still within county limits, has a beautiful pier with a sunset one must see to believe.  This was the setting for my latest restaurant in the challenge; 333 Pacific.  Part of the lauded Cohen group of restaurants, 333 Pacific overlooks the beautiful Oceanside Pier.  The style is lavish, upscale and lush, which impresses tourists and makes locals have to wonder why it’s in Oceanside, of all places.  But hey, good food is good food, no matter where it’s located.  I may or may not have used that same theory in place of the “5 second rule” in college.  Don’t you judge me.

I was joined for this dinner by two of my favorite ladies and expert level foodies.

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

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

Wish you were here. So we can sample more cocktails without looking like hopeless alcoholics.

Wish you were here. So we can sample more cocktails without looking like hopeless alcoholics.

 

333 Pacific (named for the restaurant’s street address) has won several awards for it’s food and drink.  Considering they have over 100 vodkas, i’d say they know how to satisfy their customers.  At least the ones who love vodka.  Which is me, so SCORE!  I started with Seaside Tea: A mix of iced tea vodka and lemon vodka.  Think upscale version of a John Daly.  It was really tasty in that special way that says “Don’t order another or you won’t remember eating here”.  Aimee had the Bellitini: A mix of peach vodka, orange juice and champagne.  She enjoyed it but felt it needed more peach flavor in it.  Suzanne had the “Sour Kiss”:  A mixture of citrus vodkas, Grapefruit juice and a key lime foam.  She says it had great flavor, was very light but could’ve done with less foam as it seemed to take up more than half of the glass.

For our appetizers, Aimee ordered the Andoullie & Kale Soup with white beans, garlic, tomatoes & herbs de provence.  She loved it.  Delicious comfort food with a nice spice.  Aimee also mentioned that the next time she’s sick she wants a “bucket of that soup”.  Noted.  Suzanne started with the Beet Salad.  The salad has beets, truffle oil, goat cheese, fried capers and roughly 16 pounds of arugula.  While she praised how well the beets were cooked, Suzanne notes that the salad was uninspiring and tough to eat with so much unruly greenery happening on the plate.  She said that, with micro greens, the dish would be more successful and she’d feel less like a woodland creature wading through the forest for cooked beets.

I ordered the very interesting “Ahi Stack For 2”.  It didn’t take me long to figure out why they made this dish for 2 people.  It was a stack of sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, mango, crispy shallots topped with an inch thick layer of sashimi grade ahi tuna with a lemongrass-soy sauce to pour over.  Think sushi cake.  The presentation was beautiful and striking.  The tuna was fresh and delicious, the rice wasn’t over powering and the sweetness of the fruit and crunchiness of the cucumber and shallots added just the right amount of texture and contrast to the sour sauce.  Seriously delicious and unique.

The last time I saw something this stacked and pretty was when I saw Sofia Vergara in a Prada gown.

The last time I saw something this stacked and pretty was when Sofia Vergara wore Prada.

For the main courses, Aimee ordered the Kobe Meatloaf: blue cheese crusted with seasonal mashed potatoes, green beans and cabernet ketchup.  Upon ordering our server asked Aimee if she “really liked Blue cheese”.  Rightly suspicious, Aimee answered that she was okay with it.  The server went on to say that this particular dish is covered in it and gave the option to change to a different cheese.  Aimee went with Gouda.  She enjoyed the meatloaf, saying it was really juicy throughout and the cabernet ketchup was a great compliment to the dish.  The mashed potatoes were underwhelming.

Suzanne ordered the Braised 8 Oz Boneless Beef Shortribs: with carrot & parsnip purees, lump crab, applewood smoked bacon, potato zucchini hash and braising jus reduction.  She said the ribs were cooked beautifully, super tender and totally celebrated beef  without being over powered by the parsnip puree, which was stellar.  Since I got a taste of the seafood during my appetizer, I was hankering for a steak.  I ordered the top sirloin (Medium rare).  It was cooked perfectly, not only by my estimation but by both ladies at my table who, unlike me, have actually cooked a steak before!

Yes folks, that is a potato chip on top of mashed potatoes. ANARCHY.

Yes folks, that is a potato chip on top of mashed potatoes. ANARCHY.

I ordered sauteed mushrooms and a peppercorn demi on the side because I friggin love peppercorn anything.  I made the right choice.  The demi was tangy and somehow smoky but paired beautifully with the meat.  There were also unremarkable mashed potatoes on my plate.  This launched an interesting discussion about how some upscale restaurants will prepare and showcase their proteins so expertly but the side dishes often seem like an underwhelming after thought.

That having been said, the overall experience of 333 Pacific was certainly anything but underwhelming.  Great atmosphere, beautiful location and some damn good food.  Price-wise definitely a more “special occasion” or “written off as a company paid business expense” type place.  I would take my East coast tourists here as a means to impress and I feel it would do just that.

Further reading: http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/333pacific

 

 

BiCE Ristorante (8 of 52) (CLOSED)

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I’m particular when it comes to some foods but I don’t feel right labeling myself a “Food snob”.  Like, for example, I still eat at The Olive Garden even though it’s not considered “Real Italian food” and I eat at Taco Bell even though it’s not considered “Fit for human consumption”.  You get the point.  I was raised in an Italian/American household so I, like most Italians, have my own ideas as to what constitutes “Home style Italian food”.  There has to be pasta, wine, and at least one older gentlemen at the table who has removed his shirt prior to the meal.  As much as I hold my own family traditions near and dear to my heart, I understand that not everyone grew up in a scene from Tony Manero’s home life in “Saturday Night Fever”.

In the last few years, a series of high end restaurants have sprung up around downtown San Diego and Italian places loom large on that roster, so I needed help picking one.  I found that BiCE Ristorante (Pronounced BEE-CHAY, not like Season 4 American Idol finalist/reason Carrie Underwood has been inflicted upon all of us, Bo Bice) appeared on nearly every top 10 list so I was excited to add it to the list and revisit my old stomping grounds (I lived in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter from 1998-2002 before it became the awful tourist-studded douche-moat that surrounds castle Petco Park).  Nestled away on the corner of Island & 4th, BiCE’s location was delightfully free of the things most locals hate about downtown San Diego.  I had a small but dedicated group of close friends willing to brave this challenge with me for the cheese bar science.

Amy-Vegetarian Belle, Author, Event Planner

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

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

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Meet the “Dietary Restrictions Bingo” dream team.

We were greeted by our server Alessandro who spoke with such a thick authentically Italian accent that I am certain his Grandfather sprang to fame by serving Lady and the Tramp dinner in an alley in 1955.  He was lovely.  Actually, the whole staff was really nice. Kelsey started her meal with a Trio of Tartar: fresh ahi tuna and avocado – salmon with chives – sea bass flavored with citrus.  They were all good but the real stand out for me was the tuna.  light, refreshing and perfectly done.  

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*Photo completely and utterly stolen from BiCE’s website

Amy’s goal from the moment I added this place to the list was to hit the cheese bar and hit it hard.  BICE offers and incredible selection of cheeses that must be seen to be believed.  It can be a bit intimidating but Alessandro put down his accordion long enough to be of great help with Amy’s cheeses.  The in-house cheese monger even came to our table to describe every cheese, recommend wine pairing and even told us which order to eat them like some sort of “cheese expert” or some shit…  The cheese consisted of Lagrein (A semi soft, wine-washed rind cow’s milk cheese), Sottocenere al Tartufo (Truffle cheese with ashy rind) & Sapori del Piave (Rich, complex, Northern Italian cheese).  If the entire dinner consisted just of this cheese, I would have been perfectly fine.  Seriously good cheese.  Plans are already in the works to go back and continue working our way through the cheese menu alone.

The real stand out of this meal was the main course dishes.  You guys.  I can’t even.  Readers of this blog  already know that I make it a point with every meal to try everyone’s dish and decide on a favorite.  Sometimes it’s what I got, sometimes it’s someone else’s.  This was my first honest-to-Mama-Celeste four-way dead heat.  Every single one of these dishes was a home run.  I ordered the Ravioli di Manzo alla Massaia con Salsa di Funghi Profumati al MarsalaSOLD AMERICAN! (Gavel bang)  It’s a homemade Ravioli Stuffed with Braised Beef, Veal and Spinach in a Mushroom and Marsala Wine Sauce.  At first I thought the plates and portions were a bit small for the price but one taste of this and I understood.  Rich as hell, creamy and delicious.  With so much going on in the dish it would seem like some flavors might get trampled in the mix but each note of every ingredient came forward.  It was like a tightly rehearsed band tearing through my favorite song.  Crazy good.

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Meaty, creamy, mushroomy goodness. I love you, food.

Kelsey ordered Tortelloni di Ricotta e Spinaci con colata di Gorgonzola, which is extremely hard to pronounce.  Spinach and Ricotta Tortelloni in a delicate Gorgonzola sauce & crunchy Walnut.  It was incredible.  The perfect blend of salty, savory and a touch of sweet flavors.  I’ve never seen Kelsey tear through a plate of food that fast and we’ve been to crayfish bakes together.  

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It’s almost too pretty to eat! I’m just kidding, put the God damn plate down and back away from the table…

David ordered the special of the day, potato gnocchi with king Crab in a creamy Alfredo sauce with cherry tomatoes.  Another home run; rich, creamy, perfectly prepared fresh gnocchi and fantastic crab meat.  It was so good I had almost forgotten that David nearly ruined the entire meal by spilling his Mojito all over the table.  Almost.

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If I knew this could be the result of Sebatian’s murder in “The Little Mermaid”, I would’ve rooted for the French chef the whole time. 

Amy also ordered a vegetarian dish but it’s important to note that she was hardly low on options.  In fact, Alessandro (While gently kissing up her arm) said they could easily adjust nearly any main course item to be vegetarian.  It gets better:  They also offered a wide variety of whole wheat pasta and even gluten free substitutions, which is fantastic!  Amy had the Tortino di Parmigiana di Melanzane Condita al Pesto Leggero which is properly pronounced only by Italy natives and insufferable show-offs.  It’s Baked Eggplant Parmigiana with Pesto Drizzle and it’s amazing.  Again the “Keep it simple” approach that BiCE seems to employ works perfectly in this zesty dish with eggplant perfectly fried and somehow not soggy (Sorcery at it’s purest).  

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Alessandro was also able to suggest a perfect red wine with dinner which all of us were far too far off in food-induced love to remember.

 Seriously amazing meal.  We had dessert and while I was not as blown away by dessert as I was by everything that preceded it, it was all still very good.  Amy had a Pineapple Tart with maple ice cream, which was very tangy and good.  I ordered BiCE’s take on Tiramisu, which was muted in it’s sweetness and not so aggressive but it was very smooth, and creamy.  A good ending to the meal.  My favorite dessert (as well as the table’s favorite) was what Kelsey ordered; Pistachio Lava Cake.  Made to order, it comes with a scoop of ice cream and a piece of white chocolate Pocky on top.

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I was the only person at the table brave enough to try the candied octopus looking thing on the right. It was candied hibiscus. I am courage.

I have to say I never thought green gooey cake would delight me so much, especially considering I’m not a big pistachio fan, but by this point in the meal I was prepared to follow BiCE to the ends of the Earth.  This was the best place I’ve been to so far.  Fully lived up to the hype.  Also, though a more high end place, not as expensive as I expected.  I’ve ran up bigger tabs with two people at Applebee’s (See? not a snob!!!)

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

 

  

Bistro 760 (7 of 52) (CLOSED)

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In a city as large as San Diego (5th largest in the nation, bigger than the entire state I was born in) those of us who live here basically separate the city like so: “San Diego”, “Downtown”, “North County”, “East County” & “I’m not driving all the way to Chula Vista”.  Tonight’s restaurant, Bistro 760, is located in “North County”.  The city of Vista, to be exact.  A road tripping adventure ensued and our cast of culinary Road Rules was as follows:

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

David-Technical writer, singer, robot super villain

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

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

Tomy-Fashionista, Rocky Horror performer, an original Kathryn

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Reserved: Grown up lingo for “YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US!”

Bistro 760 is nestled in the center of a million strip malls and, aside from the homeless dude Suzanne tripped over on the sidewalk, is quite elegant outside and in.  It’s clearly a sushi restaurant but one look at the menu shows the diner it’s so much more…  Among the usual sushi fare were some real head scratchers such as burgers, bacon barbecue shrimp and Poutine.  Yep, that classic Japanese favorite Poutine.  Poutine is french fries smothered in brown gravy and cheese curds.  Oh, and it’s a French Canadian dish.

Confused?  You won’t be after this episode of Soap!

Bistro 760 originally opened in 2013 as a French restaurant.  The head chef left and the business changed hands with a major overhaul of the menu with only a few dishes from the original concept available.  Maybe it was the quiet elegance of the Japanese interior or the Reggae music playing on the overhead speakers but opportunities to have a Canadian dish served in a sushi restaurant are indeed a rarity, so David seized the opportunity and ordered the poutine.

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Not actual size: The bowl was roughly the size of an SUV hub cap.

Bistro 760’s Poutine was a little different with a lighter gravy, shredded cheddar cheese in place of cheese curds and for some reason, grilled pork.  Cuz, sure, why not?  The dish was rich and while I personally find gravy on fries nauseating, I have to say it was pretty tasty . It’s built for sharing with a table or serves one very pregnant woman.  David gave the poutine deservedly high marks.

Durwood and I both ordered the special “Monkey Balls” for our appetizer because it looked good and was incredibly fun to say and have said back to us by our server while we all took turns giggling coyly like Japanese schoolgirls.  Monkey Balls, containing neither Monkey nor balls, is mushrooms stuffed with spicy tuna, coated in Tempura batter and deep fried.  They arrived with a choice of dipping sauces: Ponzu, Spicy Mayo and ranch, which I initially thought strange but who am I to question the condiment leanings of a French Canadian Rasta Sushi bar?  They were the bomb.  Super awesome.

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I wanna dip my (monkey) balls in it.

Tomy ordered the cream cheese fried wontons, which were large, tasty and very very warm.  Aimee started her dinner with the “Dynamite Mussels” which, according to her assessment, fully lived up to their name.  For the main course, it was tough to resist my usual go-to sushi fare but I managed to order a dish I wouldn’t normally have and just try everyone else’s sushi.  This proved to be a wise decision, not only for my own culinary growth but it reminded me that sushi is often more food than it looks like, so it was easy to just have a bite of someone else’s.  I ordered the Chicken Udon.

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OOH DANG!

Since changing my eating habits several months back, I’m a little more sensitive to things like how much salt is in a dish, so it was really prominent here but I didn’t mind.  The broth was super tasty, the chicken was tender and well cooked.  The noodles were really fresh and tender.  I didn’t particularly appreciate the thing in my bowl that looked like radish, was colored like a white peach and had the texture of rubber, especially after I learned it was an egg.  Gross.  Other than that, the dish was really good.

Aimee ordered the Katsudon Pork Rice Bowl with side rolls of Unagi and Shrimp sushi.  Having stayed in Japan for a spell, she’s particular about her eel (Unagi) but said it was good.  She found the pork a bit salty.  Suzanne also ordered the “Dynamite Mussles”, which she said were really good.  For dinner she got A tuna roll, Hawaiian Roll, Salmon sushi and Yellowtail Sushi.  She felt the sushi was on point.

Durwood ordered the crunchy roll and dragon roll, which he found “Melt in your mouth” good.  One thing I noticed about all the pieces of sushi were they were large.  Traditional sushi is meant to be eaten in a single bite.  Clearly the chef thought he was making dinner for Audrey 2.  Tomy’s dinner was the quite the show piece.  The rainbow roll is quite striking, including multi-colored sushi and a shot glass of flaming something.

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Rainbow colored, dramatic and flaming. The perfect dish for any gay man.

The service was okay.  The restaurant was near empty, save only us and a few other tables.  There appeared to be only one girl serving all the tables.  She disappeared for nearly 30 minutes during our dinner causing Tomy to loudly wonder if she’d died.  My assumption is she was in the kitchen preparing the Matzo ball soup for the African Heritage club’s weekly Russian dance lessons at Bistro 760.  Our overall opinion of Bistro 760 was pretty unanimous: While the sushi was really good, it wasn’t anything unlike what we could get in San Diego without the drive BUT if I find myself in Vista again, I would for sure go back.  They had tasty offerings, a lot of great things to choose from for those weirdos who don’t like sushi and a nice selection of microbrews and Japanese beer (again, if you’re into that kinda thing).  Another highlight?  The value.  The prices were mad cheap, which is always a welcome sight, particularly at a sushi place.

This outing was a particularly fun one because of the group we had.  There was lots of room to comfortably talk and laugh.  They didn’t chase us out the door after an hour or 2 and the music wasn’t super loud.  We basically wish this place was closer, as it would absolutely be added to our list of favorites.  

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