Alice Q. Foodie

Donut Bar - Downtown San Diego

2013-05-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Oh, Donut Bar... I had such high hopes for you. I hoped you would deliver something on the same level as Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco, or Doughnut Plant in New York City... but alas...
On my first trip, I will admit I might not have picked a very good day to visit. Every single doughnut offered was brown. There were creme brulee ones filled with pastry cream, chocolate and maple with bacon, chocolate cake doughnuts and apple fritters. You can see the full selection above. The creme brulee was interesting because of the hard crunchy caramelized sugar top but the pastry cream inside didn't taste like creme brulee - I couldn't tell if they made it or just scooped it out of a tub.
Maple bacon is a stellar flavor combination but the flaccid pieces of bacon draped over the top of these doughnuts were anything but appetizing - not to mention hard to eat. (Great Maple is killing these, by the way.)

The rest of the doughnuts I tried that day were no better or worse than anything you'd find in an ordinary doughnut shop. The pricing on their basic varieties are reasonable, but they would be better off doing something more interesting and charging more, IMHO.

On a second visit, I tried the blood orange, the "birthday cake" and a peanut butter and jelly bar. The blood orange was by far the best, with good strong citrus flavor in the glaze and a fluffy tender texture. I'm not crazy about the thick glaze on the old fashioned doughnuts, but the doughnut itself was fine.
The "birthday cake" flavor was plain vanilla cake doughnut with colored sprinkles. The peanut butter frosting was pleasingly salty, but I was chagrined to find the doughnut filled with artifically flavored and colored commercial quality "jelly."

If you're going to charge $3. for a doughnut I just think you should do better than that.

Donut Bar
631 B St
Downtown San Diego
check their Facebook page for their daily menu and updates.

Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle - Point Loma

2013-03-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of both craft beer and the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou? Well then, I have just the place for you. A bait shack and beer bar located on the west side of Shelter Island, overlooking the San Diego Bay. Not only is the tiny paneled dining room smartly turned out in dark blue with a collection of undersea themed movie posters, a bookshelf full of National Geographic back issues and vintage diving equipment - but the craft beer selection rivals any other establishment in town. That is not surprising considering the owner, Dennis Borlek, was one of the original cooks at the Liar's Club and managed Hamilton's before moving on to the Monkey Paw and ultimately landing here.
When we walked up we were greeted by Dennis, dressed in an elaborate pirate outfit - who stamped our hands with a squid logo. We entered the dimly lit space and felt like we were on a submarine - it's about the size of an RV, with the only light coming from a picture window overlooking the bay and one large yellow industrial light fixture hanging from the ceiling. The bar in front of the window is a perfect place to enjoy the view - especially at sunset - but there are a few blonde wood tables too. Very few - in fact I think three is the exact number. There are a few tables outside as well with a view of the city - and yes - an actual bait shop opening onto the pier.
I'm guessing it gets crowded on weekend nights, but on Sundays they close at 8, so it was pretty low key with just one or two other tables occupied. We sat by the window and enjoyed a Russian River Damnation and a Bear Republic Red Rocket with a classic blue cheese wedge salad, a burger and an Italian sausage sandwich. They make the sausages in house, and I think they are probably what they do best - though the pulled pork sandwich with housemade kimchi sounded promising too. They also do Baja style hot dogs, including a loaded version with kimchi and pepperjack.

I had a burger craving, so I ordered the Fathom Burger - it was a good traditional burger - but it was a little bit difficult to eat since it was served on a sausage roll. The Italian sausage with marinara and provolone was fantastic and the wedge salad was a classic specimen - chilled and crisp with tangy dressing and chunks of bacon and cherry tomatoes. It would be nice if they offered a few nibble style things to go with the beer - maybe some nuts, pickled vegetables or olives, or even a good grilled cheese. As it stands everything on the menu includes meat, so bear that in mind if traveling with vegetarians.
All in all though, the best thing about Fathom is that it feels special. It reminds me of one of those tiny ski chalets on the mountain that feels like a secret spot. They play great music, they have a killer beer selection and serve good food in a cozy atmosphere. It's a great spot for a date (it was in fact part of a "date day" that I had planned for James) particularly considering you can walk along the water before or after you stop in for your beer. It would also be a fun place for out-of-towners since it kills two birds - the view of the city and the craft beer scene in one swoop. If you're feeling extra brave, you could even stop by the Bali Hai afterwards for Mai Tais - assuming you have nowhere to be the next morning.

Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle
1776 Shelter Island Drive
On the fishing pier toward the west end of the Island
across from the Best Western.

Because Everyone Loves a Good Sandwich

2013-03-26T00:57:00.002-07:00

Clockwise from top left: lobster roll at B&G Oysters, Boston; the Sam at Stein's Deli in NOLA; Steak Sandwich at Gjelina in LA; Bahn Mi at Out the Door in SF; Grilled Cheese at Hog Island Oysters in SF; the Schnitzelwich at Tabor in Portland; the Lobster BLT at B&G Oysters; Turkey and swiss with avocado and tarragon mustard at Rubicon Deli in SD, the Tabor cart in Portland.

IMHO, nothing but nothing beats a good sandwich for satisfaction. Inspired by Bon Appetit's latest issue, here is my own top ten list of favorite (non burger) sandwiches both outside and inside San Diego. What are some of yours??

1. The Shrimp Toast at Son of a Gun in LA
2. Momofuku pork buns in NYC
3. Hog Island Oyster grilled cheese in SF
4. Fried Chicken at Son of a Gun
5. The Sam at Stein's Deli in NOLA
6. Bahn Mi at Out the Door in SF
7. Schnitzelwich at Tabor in Portland
8. Roli Roti Porchetta at the Ferry Building Farmers Market in SF
9. The lobster roll or lobster BLT at B&G Oysters in Boston
10. The steak sandwich at Gjelina in LA

Favorite sandwiches in San Diego:

1. Triple Threat Pork sandwich at Carnitas’ Snack Shack
2. Fried Chicken on a Cream Cheese & Chive Biscuit at Tiger! Tiger! (Sunday only)
3. Crab sandwich at Point Loma Seafoods.
4. Turkey with swiss, tarragon mustard and avocado on a dutch crunch roll at Rubicon Deli
5. Roast beef with goat cheese and red onion at Con Pane.
6. The No. 9 (bbq pork) bahn mi at K sandwiches (ask for double meat & extra pickle.)
7. Porchetta at Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla
8. Provencal vegetable sandwich at Cafe Zinc
9. ABLT at Prep Kitchen in Little Italy
10. Chargrilled fresh fish torta at El Pescador.

Edit: Great minds think alike I guess - Candice also posted a list of the "Iconic Sandwiches of San Diego" on Eater San Diego today, and we had many of the same ones on our lists! Here's to good taste ;)

Son of a Gun - Los Angeles

2013-03-20T23:54:00.001-07:00

Have you seen the cover of the new Bon Appetit yet? I just got mine in the mail and I was bowled over all over again by the gorgeous fried chicken sandwich on the cover - which I recognized from dinner last week at Son of a Gun. It was one of those things that everyone in the restaurant was ordering, and we had to have one too as soon as we laid eyes on it. In fact, everything on the menu sounded so amazing it was hard to choose - so we made it as easy for ourselves as we could by ordering almost everything on the menu.
We didn't have a reservation and the restaurant is tiny - with about ten tables on one side and a small bar and communal table on the other, so we so we got there right at six to get a spot. We weren't the only ones - when we first drove by, about five people were in line but by the time we walked up, it was at least three times that many.
We happened to be seated next to an adorable couple out on a date - below is a photo I snuck of their order of the King Salmon with jerk spice, kiwi, palm sugar vinaigrette and habanero. They said it was delicious and they also recommended the Burrata with Uni. We didn't try either one, but I'll take their word for it. You can also see a bottle of the house fermented shandy sitting on the table here - drinks are as big a deal as the food here and they have a killer cocktail menu.

It was apparent that the male half of the couple was absolutely smitten with his lovely date, and when we started chatting with them we learned this was only one of many stops they would be making, as they were doing a progressive dinner with stops at different restaurants for each course. When I asked where else they were going he showed me his list. (I had to keep it a secret from her because each stop was a surprise.) This was in fact their second stop - the first had been Osteria Angelini, and they were on their way to Fig & Olive, then Spago and on to Craft, with a last stop at Mozza to pick up Butterscotch Budino *to go.* *wink wink* The date had been going since 9 AM - it started with croissants at Proof bakery, then there was a trampoline session at Sky High Trampoline Park, and a stop for a massage at a day spa before their dinner began. They had met on a plane and dated for six months before they were separated - then after a year and a half long break, they got back together for several months. After chatting with them we were all rooting for it to stick this time.
The Kale Caesar salad - below left, was another dish that practically everyone seemed to be ordering - it was tangy and rich, showered with finely grated parmesan and tossed with crisp walnuts. The avocado and citrus salad was refreshing and delicious too - nothing unusual but it's hard to go wrong with a combination of tangy, sweet citrus and buttery avocado.
This was the smoked mahi fish dip with celery, radishes and crackers - it came with club crackers on the side. This is the kind of thing I should make at home but never do. The shaved celery and radish was a nice refreshing touch and it had great flavor - lots of horseradish.
Next up came their justly famous lobster roll. I was already aware that it was pretty small - but it is really tiny - just a couple of bites. It's cute the way they use potato chips to hold the lobster salad in. The sweet lobster salad and buttery roll were delicious, but hard to share.
My personal favorite dish was the Shrimp Toast sandwich - pictured below. Shrimp toast is usually a crisp buttery slice of bread topped with a mixture of chopped shrimp and mayonnaise and baked until golden brown. This was turned into a sandwich with the addition of a top layer of buttery crisp bread and accented with a Sriracha sauce and a bit of cilantro. It was insanely rich, but I could have easily eaten another one. It would be the perfect couple of bites with a cocktail.
Soon after that came the famous fried chicken - topped with a sharp vinaigrette based slaw spiked with jalapenos and red onion and served on a toasted brioche bun smeared with a rooster sauce mayonnaise. It was probably the best fried chicken sandwich I've ever had - and though I haven't tried Bake Sale Betty's up in the Bay Area, I've had a few. Here in San Diego they serve a credible one on a biscuit at Tiger Tiger, and the MIHO Gastrotruck dishes up a similar version - but this one was special. I definitely prefer the lighter bun, and the combination of the sharp vinegary coleslaw with the rich fried chicken is the perfect contrast.
There were a few other dishes in between that were ok, but not something I'd order again. The brandade with "grainy mustard butter" arugula and fried egg was not as flavorful as it should have been, and the BBQ shrimp with warm potato salad and pickled bacon did not live up to its imaginative sounding name. One surprise stunner of the evening though was this brussel sprout dish, with chinese sausage, cinnamon, peanut and egg. The crispy brussel sprouts mingled with the broken egg and sausage, and accented by the sweetness of the peanut and cinnamon became one of the best tasting and most original dishes we tried - it reminded me of David Chang.
We didn't have room for dessert, but the few options on the menu sounded good - especially the house made tin roof ice cream. Some ladies next to us recommended the lime frozen yogurt, which was served in a bowl with a graham crumble and a smear of torched meringue on the side. Reservations are hard to come by because of the size of the place, but if you get there early or late, or have time to wait, it's pretty easy for a small party to get seated at the bar or communal table. To my way of thinking, the ideal way to spend time here would be to sit at the bar with a friend or a date, have a few cocktails and graze on some of their more interesting small bites - in fact I'm planning to do just that as soon as I can!

Son of a Gun
8370 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048

open for lunch & dinner M-F
dinner only on weekends.

Bar Stella | Bar Keeper - Los Angeles

2013-03-18T09:12:00.002-07:00

The next stop on our whirlwind LA tour was Sunset Junction in the heart of Silverlake. This little corner at a bend in the road is home to the east side branch of Intelligentsia - famous for it's perfect espresso and Granada tile, The Cheese Store of Silverlake and Cafe Stella. I had been to each of those before, but I hadn't noticed Bar Stella - hidden away a few steps down from the Cafe toward the street. Jora and Desi had been here a few months earlier and wanted to recreate their experience, and once I entered I could see why.
The ritual (because we definitely plan to repeat this again) involves stopping in the Cheese Store of Silverlake for cheese stuffed dates, grilled on the panini press. Those are carried, wrapped in paper, to the bar, and set out to wait for drinks to arrive - then consumed with a delicious beverage while still warm and gooey. I can vouch for the fact that they pair nicely with a glass of chilled rose, but I'm sure any one of their cocktails would be equally delightful. (The C. Arthur was strongly recommended to me by the young man seated to my right.)

It's hard to imagine a better place to while away an hour or two of the afternoon, and that's exactly what we did. We chatted with the bartender and a few other patrons, listened to some good mellow music, enjoyed the afternoon light filtering in through the doorway from their small Moroccan styled patio, and soaked up the pleasure of spending an afternoon with favorite girlfriends in a lovely spot.
We also plotted our next move - which would include dinner. Since the trip was planned on short notice, we hadn't been able to get a reservation anywhere - so we figured our best strategy was to show up somewhere early. We contemplated Lucques, L&E Oyster bar and Mozza, but we all really wanted to try Son of a Gun, so we figured we would try that first and head somewhere else as a backup.
On our way into Bar Stella, we popped in to Bar Keeper, just around the corner - it's a boutique liquor store and cocktail supply shop with a huge selection of bitters, a wall of top shelf liquor choices, and lots of vintage cocktail glasses, shakers and accessories. They specialize in bitters - displayed below - and Desi picked up a bottle of Yuzu bitters that she handed to the bartender and asked him to make her a drink. He came up with a refreshing gin concoction that she absolutely loved. Win win.
So, let's recap. Other than a short stop at Broome Street General Store for a delightful visit with Elizabeth , Elodie and delicious baby Francesca, we spent our day eating, shopping, drinking and eating, in that order. Oh and eating some more, if you count our stop at The Pie Hole on the way home. Yup, it was pretty much bliss from one end to the other!

Next up - Dinner at Son of a Gun, then back to San Diego!

Cookbook - Los Angeles

2013-03-15T01:19:00.001-07:00

Cookbook is a small grocery and food shop in Echo Park and a sister to Cortez. It's tiny, but packed wall to wall with great stuff, including fresh bakery breads, Marin Sun Farms meats, fresh pastured eggs, and a selection of fruits and vegetables from local farms including leeks, kale, beets, meyer lemons, avocados, fresh herbs, etc. They also stock pantry goods like Rancho Gordo beans, Maestri pasta, June Taylor jams, Mast Bros. Chocolate, Sightglass coffee and Straus dairy and carry a small selection of prepared foods.

Originally, the idea behind the name was that they would feature dishes inspired by or drawn from different cookbooks each week - but it seems like that has fallen away in favor of the practicality of offering their customers what they want - such as the Beans and Greens made with Rancho Gordo's Good Mother Stallards (recipe here).
They were especially well stocked with great looking produce on the day we were there. On my last visit a few months ago the selection was not quite as good, so I'm guessing it varies from day to day.
The best part is their prices are not overly inflated. They charge maybe $.50 to a dollar more than Whole Foods or a farmers market for the produce and pantry items. By contrast, Broome Street General Store's prices are marked up about 30% across the board.
Next door to Cookbook, there is a small boutique called Cookbook 2, where they sell a few home goods - primarily the clay cazuelas and pottery items that they use at Cortez. There are also some solid wood bowls, Japanese spice grinders and paring knives. It's not obvious that it's there - we wouldn't have known about it if our friends at Cortez hadn't told us about it that morning. You have to ask them to unlock it for you and let you in.
We all really liked these pottery tumblers that they use as coffee mugs at Cortez. They not only look cool, but keep the coffee really hot.

I picked up some of their house made granola, a bag of Rancho Gordo cranberry beans, a package of Maestri bucatini and a jar of the avocado honey we enjoyed at breakfast at Cortez (which I just discovered they also sell at Whole Foods.) It was a good haul!

Cookbook
1549 Echo Park Avenue
Los Angeles
(213) 250-1900

Tomboy | Dream Collective | Clare Vivier - Silverlake

2013-03-13T08:38:00.003-07:00

Though eating was close to the top of our list of reasons for going to LA last weekend, our primary goal was to visit one of my favorite little corners of the world - at Micheltorena and Sunset - to do a little shopping.
This little strip just happens to host my favorite boutique of all time - Dream Collective - Jora's favorite kids' store - Tomboy, and the Clare Vivier store - which sells my favorite line of bags and leather goods. Tomboy is especially well-curated for a children's store, with lots of cute imported handmade goods, Beatrice Valenzuela shoes in kids sizes, textiles and clothes from Bobo Choses that won't "bling" your kid out like some other children's boutiques. It's the kind of place where you wish a lot of the stuff came in your size.
Dream Collective is the costume jewelry line of Kathryn Bentley, and her shop - just next door - revolves around her jewelry collection and complementary items like Beatrice Valenzuela's shoes, hand dyed clothing, stained glass art made by her husband David Scheid, and other luxe bohemian delights. I love David's glass in the front windows, and you can see one of his pieces hanging on the wall on the left.
The cases contain her two jewelry collections - the costume line called Dream Collective and her eponymous fine jewelry line. The Dream Collective line draws on primitive cultures for inspiration, and the delicate fine jewelry is made with 14 karat gold and natural gemstones such as turquoise and tourmaline. It's all gorgeous.
The bottom two shoe shelves feature a wide selection of Beatrice Valenzuela's soft leather handmade shoes and booties - not many in size 10 though I'm afraid.
Clare Vivier's shop - right on the corner - offers an assortment of her elegant and simple leather bags, as well as a curated selection of items including Chateau Marmont candles, Rodin cosmetics, simple jewelry and leather accessories.
Clare Vivier also stocks Heather Taylor's linens. I'm coveting the purple and blue cocktail napkins - which seem to me like they could be used for all kinds of things.

If that isn't enough - next door to Clare Vivier is a shop called the "Grilled Cheese Shop" - which I haven't tried, but hello!? How could you go wrong? And there is a salon in between Dream Collective and Clare Vivier called Hive which sells the full line of Davines hair products. Last time I was in town I popped in there to pick up some sample size shampoo and conditioner because I had forgotten mine, and landed on the Nounou line, which has since become my all time favorite.

Needless to say, there were a lot of great options, but the only thing I brought home was this David Scheid piece from Dream Collective. I'm kind of in love with it. It wasn't the last thing I fell in love with on this trip though - more on that coming soon. :)

Tomboy
1406 Micheltorena St
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Dream Collective
1404 Micheltorena St
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 660-2000

Clare Vivier
3339 Sunset
at Micheltorena

Cortez - Los Angeles

2013-03-11T11:43:00.001-07:00

This past weekend some girlfriends and I took a little day trip to Los Angeles. My usual MO has been to go up and spend the night - which is great too - but the day trip actually works pretty well, especially with a group of friends who make the drive a a pleasure instead of a chore. We started the day with brunch at Cortez - a cafe in Echo Park run by the same lovely folks behind Cookbook - a small grocery and take out shop a few blocks away.
The menu at Cortez is small, but everything on it sounded fantastic. If you're familiar with Boulette's Larder at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, it was like that, only more California and less French, with half the price and pretension. (I've been fantasizing a lot about opening a food business lately, and this was eerily close to what I imagine it would look like.)

I had the farro and lentils with harissa and egg - which came with a big tangle of fried shallots. Something like this runs the risk of being bland or heavy, but this was neither - the perfectly cooked runny egg mingled with the harissa and farro to form a hearty but not gut-busting breakfast dish.
Desi and Jora had the merguez sausage on flatbread with yogurt, pickles and greens - and Jora added an egg. The lamb sausage was mild and the pickles added a nice sharp accent. Elise had the white beans with smoked tomatoes, chard and an egg - which also had great flavor.
We shared some roasted kabocha squash with sage browned butter and shaved cheese, and the flatbread with avocado honey and olive oil. To drink, we had blood orange juice (I did anyway, I was still recovering from a wicked hangover) and cappuccinos, and Elise had beautiful fresh mint tea - just mint steeped in boiling water. The flatbread with honey and olive oil was pretty much the perfect indulgence. It reminded me of the sopapillas at Tomasitas in Santa Fe. I liked it so much I bought some of the honey at Cookbook later.

I was also really taken with the design of the place - it's a small room, with two long communal tables and a small bar in front of the kitchen. It feels open and airy with the simple wood & brick interior and high ceilings. The accents - copper, citrus, dried herbs - strike the perfect note of modern California chic, and I liked that it doesn't look just like every other hipster retro-pharmacy/train-station style joint out there.

After we ate, the place cleared out and we started chatting with Stephen and Jitson. (I don't know what it was about this trip but we just made friends wherever we went. LA has become so friendly lately!) We even got them to pose for a photo. When I originally asked if I could take pictures, Stephen said sure, just follow and tag us on Instagram! (@restaurantcortez)While we were chatting, they mentioned that Jonathan Gold had recently savaged them in the LA Times - I pulled up the review and read it on the spot. I usually like his reviews, but I think he may be off base on this one. He went for dinner - which may be a substantially different experience than brunch, but he waxed rhapsodic about the food, calling one dish "just short of stunning" - so clearly the food was not the problem. His main complaint seemed to be that the portions were too small and the wine ran out too soon. A choice quote: "You are going to cut the two globes of merguez sausage neatly into halves, wrap your bit in a bandage-sized scrap of flatbread and hope that you have not taken more than your allotted half-teaspoonful of yogurt sauce." Their response: just ask for more! He also rather snottily references "screechy jazz" and claims "if you belong here, you know who you are." Oof. The most irritating part is that it seems the review is mostly for effect - since he comes into Cookbook all the time, and has never uttered a complaint about the atmosphere there or seemingly felt out of place. Regardless - I doubt his review will deter anyone who would otherwise be inclined to go there for dinner, and I for one can't wait to try it!

Stay tuned for more of our adventures on the East Side!

Cortez
1356 Allison Ave in Echo Park - just off Sunset
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 481-8015

Roast Coach | Coffee & Tea Collective | Dark Horse - North Park

2013-03-06T09:17:00.004-08:00

While there's certainly no shortage of coffee bars in San Diego, until recently there's been a bit of a shortage of good ones. Three lovely new spots in the urban zone are helping with that.

You'll find the Roast Coach girls at their hand-built wooden stand in front of Sea Rocket Bistro on 30th near Upas and their brand new second location downtown at 330 A Street. They do pour over coffee and delicious iced drinks like the "Southern Hospitality" pictured here - a blend of cold brew, fresh mint, chicory, sugar and cream. Check out the menu here.

Most days they also do fantastic Aabelskivers - round pancakes cooked on a special gas griddle right there on the sidewalk. There is always a sweet one and sometimes a savory - these were filled with lemon curd & blueberries. They have a few pastries available from a local vendor, but I seldom get there early enough to get a good one. The pour over coffee is like rocket fuel. Their Ethiopian Sidiamo actually prompted me to switch to pour over brewing at home and I haven't looked back.

A few blocks away on El Cajon Boulevard, Coffee & Tea Collective is upping the bar for espresso in the area... most of the time at least. Though all the pieces are there, the coffee sometimes isn't as good as it should be. The cortados and macchiatos are often a little too milky and not hot enough - but the espresso itself is good, the cold brew is delicious and they are pros at the pour over technique.

The space is lovely and the people are very nice - I keep going back because I like the environment so much.

This was a macchiato - a good one.

I especially like their ever-changing art exhibits. The work is interesting and usually for sale for reasonable prices. Funny story - I bought something from a recent show and it turned out they had already sold it to someone else - they had to tell Jora to tell me to bring it back. At least I got a free coffee out of it.

I have also enjoyed the beans I've bought from them, especially the Bolivian Yanaimo. (I may be spelling that wrong.) All of their beans are medium roast and have great full flavor. Since I personally like my coffee a smidge on the darker side though, I've been buying my beans at Dark Horse Roasters on Adams Avenue. They opened just a few months ago in a tiny space on Adams near the post office in Normal Heights. They sell their own house-roasted beans and serve pour over & cold brew and a few pastry items - including vegan donuts. Their Sumatra is my current jam. :)

If the hipster scene at these places just isn't your thing - there is always Peet's in Hillcrest. It was my mainstay for years, and pretty much the only place I would order an espresso. It had slid a bit in recent months, but they have a new barista there who made me the best coffee I've had in as long as I can remember the other day. It was a good thing, seeing as how it was a quadruple macchiato. "Yes, quadruple." For some reason I always have to repeat that. It was syrupy, not the slightest bit bitter, with good crema and just the right amount of foam. Most importantly, it made the drive to work immediately afterwards a pleasure, not a chore. I'm sure the lovely chat with Vince and invigorating morning workout helped - but there's just nothing like a perfect coffee to get your day going in the right direction - which is why I'm so glad to see these places popping up.
I also want to give a shout out to a couple of other great local coffee options: Dave Wasserman's Joes on the Nose coffee truck appears at most of the local farmers markets and does catering gigs too. He makes a great cup and some delicious island themed iced treats like the Aloha mocha with coconut whipped cream. He's also a really nice guy, and was the first person to give me a cup of brewed coffee that tasted good without cream. Paul and James of West Bean appear at local events (like the Camp Confab, pictured above), supply local restaurants and run an online store, though they have yet to open a cafe. I need to try their beans again now that I have the proper apparatus for brewing. The old percolator just doesn't extract the full flavor from their freshly roasted beans!

Polite Provisions | Soda & Swine - Normal Heights

2013-03-04T22:35:00.000-08:00

Hello there! It has been a while hasn't it? I sure have missed you! I hope you've missed me too, at least a little bit. There were a few reasons for the long absence - we moved, for one thing. This probably isn't the right place to tell that story (or at least this post isn't) but suffice it to say we have relocated to a more central "urban" neighborhood and I am pretty happy about it, though I miss my fruit trees and being super close to Jora. I have also been busier than I would like with work - which prompted me to give up everything else and make that numero uno for a time (and it still is, really) - but I have very sorely missed the outlet this blog gives me to be at least a little bit creative. There isn't much room for that in the old law business.
One silver lining of the relocation is that it's easier to get out more. We weren't THAT much farther from civilization in the old house, but that extra fifteen or twenty minutes each way just made the casual night out on a weekday that much less likely to happen. The abundance of fun new places to check out in the North Park/Normal Heights/South Park area is also great motivation. The other night we checked out Polite Provisions and Soda & Swine with Desi and Josh. We got there early - because it just worked out that way and because I figured it would be a good idea with it being a new popular spot and all. It was already packed at 5 PM and became progressively more so as the night went on. I would also recommend getting there early because the space is so lovely and light-filled with the huge skylights. They (Arsalun Tafazoli & Consortium Holdings, the same team behind Neighborhood, Craft & Commerce and Underbelly) really put some money into the decor in this place - it's all mirrors, marble and wood with lots of brass light fixtures. The drinks we had were good. I especially liked the Kitty Pryde, with tequila and cherry herring. James knocked back two of the Lawyer's Privilege with bourbon, orgeat and bitters, and the Oceanside - with gin, mint & celery, and Misty Mountain Buck with housemade ginger beer & bourbon were pretty good too - though I thought the Buck could have used more kick. The drinks seemed to lean a little toward the sweet side overall.

The bar is connected to "Soda & Swine" - a more casual spot that serves food. They will bring you food in the bar side - but you have to walk over there to order it. I couldn't figure out if you can also drink on the Soda & Swine side, but it didn't look like it - nobody in there seemed to have cocktails and they stock lots of bottled sodas like Cheerwine and root beer. The room features two long rows of picnic tables outfitted with swanky red stools and a huge metal-clad fireplace. The vibe is much more casual and quieter - partly because the ceiling is open to the sky and the sound isn't reverberating.
The food menu is simple - it consists of several varieties of meatballs including a chicken one that was surprisingly tasty and a vegetarian quinoa with pesto which was also nice. The chorizo tasted like a sloppy joe. Surprisingly, the one we liked the least was the plain old beef with marinara - it was dry and the sauce was negligible.
You can get your meatballs in a slider, a sub sandwich or on a plate - and they have an assortment of sides to match. The prices are around $4 per meatball and $3 per side. As for the sides, they wrap the scotch egg in the same chorizo the meatball is made of, so you probably don't need both. The brussel sprouts with bacon were fine, but the shaved apple salad was a slightly sloppy overly sweet pile of shaved apple with small cubes of sharp cheese and celery - it needed a lot more watercress and more acid.

The main problem is, if you're going to just offer one thing, it should be really good, and what we had just wasn't that great. It could have been that they were overwhelmed, it could have been that they're still working things out in the kitchen - but the bottom line is I am in no big hurry to rush back there for another meatball, and since there's nothing else to try, I'm in no hurry to rush back period. The long line indicates that the place is a hit - but they're getting a lot of disappointed reviews on Yelp (especially about the pie, so fair warning there.) Hopefully, things will straighten out a bit in the near future, but until they do I'm more likely to do my small plates dining and cocktailing at the bar at Jayne's across the street, or El Take it Easy just a few blocks down.

Polite Provisions and Soda & Swine
30th at Adams
4696 Adams Ave
San Diego, CA 92116

My Latest Thing

2012-08-01T23:43:00.008-07:00

If you wanted to know, you are probably already aware that I'm on Pinterest and Instagram (username for both - aliceqfoodie) They're the second and third reasons I haven't been blogging as often as I'd like to - behind the fact that I have been working really hard lately. Now I have a new outlet, Tumblr. I've had an account for a long time and have been using it to follow several blogs, but I finally bit the bullet and set up one of my own. I like the creative nature of it, the random blog names, the fact that anything goes. There are also fewer bible verses and a lot less nail art than on Pinterest. I'm feeling a little bereft though - I only have four followers (holla Desi & Jed!) Anyway, if you're on there, give me a shout. Unless your posts are mostly about french tips and how much you love Chick Fil A, I'll probably follow you back. ;)

What and Where I Ate in Paris

2012-08-01T09:42:00.007-07:00

I didn't make a lot of plans for eating in Paris. Though I hadn't been in quite a while, I just sort of figured it would work itself out. I was fortunate enough to be hosted during my stay by a friend and classmate of my husband James named Amy, who invited me to stay with her and her husband when I told her I would be in town for a few days. On my first night in Paris, a Sunday, we went to Semilla, a trendy modern bistro in the heart of the St. Germain.

On Sundays they serve a set meal for 29 E, with a choice of starters and one entree. The menu below translates roughly to: a choice of bread with tomatoes and green gazpacho, house-cured salmon with white beer gelee or cold cauliflower soup topped with chervil and a main course of boar (shot by the chef himself) served with fingerling potatoes.

I was so busy taking everything in at this point - reveling in the fact that I was out to dinner in Paris, getting to know my hosts, sipping cold white wine - that it didn't really dawn on me until Amy pointed it out a bit later that the prix fixe meal was a little underwhelming. The pan con tomate was served with a topping of ham - not that I generally mind a little extra pork, but when the main course is pork, it might be a bit much. They had run out of the green gazpacho and served us the cold cauliflower soup instead, which further leached the plate of color.
The pork was acceptable, though a little bit tough - possibly because it was wild boar, possibly because it had not been aged.
The meal was redeemed by dessert, at least for me. I had the "Sable Fraise" a thick, crumbly pistachio shortbread cookie topped with vanilla cream, perfect strawberries and curls of coconut. Fred, Amy's husband, ordered the Cake au Noix with Chocolate Chaud (Hazelnut cake with Hot Chocolate) which was ok, but not as good as it should have been.

The next day I was on my own to explore the city. It was a holiday so most boutiques and small businesses were closed, but the major department and chain stores around the Champs Elysee and Opera in the 8th and 9th Arrondissements were open. I took the metro over to the Opera and popped in Galeries Lafayette for a few macarons from the Laduree counter just inside the door. I went back later in the day and picked up a few of these pastries. They were just as delicious as they looked.

On Amy's recommendation, I had lunch at the oyster bar at Garnier, near the Opera. The bar itself is a jewel box space and I had it all to myself. My server did not speak English but that didn't hinder me from pointing at the small "plat" on the menu. I couldn't finish it all but I did pretty good work, especially on the oysters and shrimp. It was my first time trying whelks or "bulots" and I managed to chew through a couple of them before deciding they're just not my thing. The staff at the oyster bar on the sidewalk outside were very charming and let me take lots of pictures - they even invited me inside the larger restaurant to take photos (unusual for Paris.) After lunch, I checked out my first Velib bike and went on a little excursion up Rue Martyrs to Place Pigalle. It was a hot day, so I checked the bike in and went into McDonalds and asked for "un gran coca cola light avec boucoup glace" - and received a regular coke with precisely no ice. I tried again and got diet this time, with about seven cubes. I didn't think my French was THAT bad.

To get out of the heat I took the Metro back to Place Madeleine to pick up picnic supplies. My plan was to get a couple of things at Fauchon, maybe some pastries from a patisserie and some other things at a Monoprix. This cheese plate from Fauchon was perfect for two and quite a bargain - I think together with a (very excellent) plain baguette it was under $10.

I also picked up a container of julienned vegetable salad that was decidedly NOT a bargain. I went back to Galeries Lafayette for the pastries, and to a mini Monoprix for butter, olives and a few other staples (butter and olives are definitely staples in France - as are dijon mustard and cornichons.) The plan had been to picnic in a nearby park, but it was threatening rain so we ate our little feast at the dining room table. That was just fine with me, because I was exhausted after walking and biking all over the city all day.

The next morning I started my day with a croissant from Sadaharu Aoki, just around the corner from where I was staying, on Place Royal. Aside from the amazing frozen one from Picard Amy had made me the morning before (no lie), this was the best croissant I had on the trip. The shop itself is a delight - a confiserie and patisserie based on it's namesake's stylish Japanese aesthetic. I would have returned to buy small boxes of the bonbons maquillage to bring back as gifts, but I was felled later that night by an unfortunate bout of "le gastro."

Lunch that day was at Au Pied du Cochon, near Rue Montorgeuil. They were advertising two course plat - (I chose an entree and dessert) with wine and water for 18 Euros. With the bread they served a little pot of "confit du porc" - a pork rillettes spread. I opted for steak frites (I had to have it at least once on the trip!) and the meat was as tough as my shoe, but the onions, dressing on the salad and the sauce - true to French tradition - had great flavor. The place was lively and made for great people watching and there were many locals there as well as tourists. Would I go back? Maybe - but I don't think I would order the same thing again.

For dessert I had the Ile Flottante - which was lovely - but given that the egg whites are virtually uncooked, it occurred to me that it could have been the source of my illness. Then again, it could just as easily have been a virus from the handlebars of a Velib bike... or the oysters....

I am sure I don't have to tell you there is nothing fun about being sick on a vacation. I lost my last day in Paris to recuperating, but at least I didn't have to get up and get on a plane - and I was lucky to be staying with Amy, who took great care of me. She went to the store for Smart Water and crackers and to the Post Office for a box that I could send some stuff home in, which was a life saver as it turned out.

I almost forgot to mention something funny that happened on my last day out and about. A young woman walked up to me outside the Musee d'Orsay and pretended to find a ring laying on the ground. She said the ring was too big for her and handed it to me, then asked me for money for it - I handed her 3 Euros and hightailed it out of there - with the ring. They use these brass rings with stamps on the inside to make them look like real gold, so I thought it might have been stolen until I realized it was brass. Amy had heard of the scam and had even seen it happen to someone outside the Louvre so she explained it to me, and we both thought it was pretty funny that it happened to me.

France, 2012 - Paris

2012-07-27T10:20:00.002-07:00

After five fantastic days in the Southwest of France I boarded the TGV in Agen and headed for Paris. A few people have asked me about the train ride, and I have to say - it was one of the most uncomfortable I've ever experienced. Not only because it was hot and crowded (I chose my car poorly) but there was almost no luggage storage, which may have been partially to blame for the fact that a woman's full-sized suitcase fell down out of the tiny overhead bin and landed squarely on my head about halfway through the trip. Thankfully it was more shocking than anything else, but it caused quite a ruckus, let me tell you.

I'd been to Paris twice before and I was prepared for crowds and had a pretty good idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do, but I still found it a little oppressive somehow. I used my first day, which was a national holiday to explore a bit (a lot of places were closed) and on the second day I went "shopping" I put that in quotes because I didn't actually buy anything. On the third day I was sick - which was a drag, but I was really glad I didn't have to get on a plane, which had been my original plan. I barely made my flight as it was, after the shuttle no-showed, and we hit crazy traffic on the way to the airport on the Air France bus the next morning.

The other day, I heard a story on NPR about something called "Paris Syndrome." Apparently when some people go to Paris, they are so disappointed by the reality that they actually suffer a kind of emotional breakdown. Japanese people appear to be particularly susceptible, and it's theorized it's because depictions of Paris in popular culture there idealize Paris so much. My experience wasn't as extreme, but I can see how Paris can let people down. The expectations are just so high - its Paris, after all! But it's also a real place, full of real people going about their real business. Everything is expensive, there are lines wherever you go, there are as many Americans as French people on the streets (at least in the busiest areas) it's expensive, it's not always easy to get around, and the weather is fickle - rainy and gray one day, hot and sunny the next.
On past visits I've used the Batobus to get around Central Paris - and I highly recommend it. It runs up and down the Seine with stops at the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, Notre Dame, Ile de la Cite, Place Concorde, etc. It's a great way to see all of those sites in a short period of time. This time I was staying on the left bank in an area near the Latin Quarter, so I used the Velib bikes and the Metro for the most part. To use the Velib bikes without a "chip and pin" credit card, you need to buy your pass in advance on the internet and then activate it when you get there. Jordan of Oh Happy Day lived in Paris for a year and has a nice little guide here. You'll have to punch in a long pin number when you check out a bike (check the tires, I had one with a flat) but it's not too much of a hassle. The bikes are better than walking over long distances, but can be a little nerve wracking when you don't know your way around. One thing I was REALLY glad I did was pay in advance for an international data plan for my iPhone, so I could use the maps function for directions. It saved my bacon a few times.
I was primarily focused on food on this trip and I had a short list of places I knew I wanted to go. At the top of my list was Rue Montorgueil and the nearby cookware shop E. Dehillerin (where Julia Child bought her copper pots, so the story goes.) At E. Dehillerin you wander around and find what you need, then record the item number and look up the price in a large book near the front counter.

It was crowded and there was a line for the only salesman who spoke English, but I was able to check out the options and they do mail order, so when the time comes I will have that stainless steel lined heavy duty copper sauce pan of my dreams. The prices are very reasonable, even with the exchange rate.
Rue Montorgueil is a street of food shops located near Les Halles, the original home of the storied wholesale food market of Paris which was relocated to the outskirts of town in the 70s and replaced with a tacky indoor shopping mall. Rue Montorgueil itself is lined with innumerable cafes, cheese shops, produce stands, bakeries, boucheries, confiseries, chocolatiers and on and on. David Lebovitz' guide to the area is full of great tips and information. I went to most of the places he mentions including Mora, the pastry supply warehouse, where I was taken aback to find a large selection of Wilton brand cake decorating supplies on the shelves - the same stuff you can buy at any old Michaels craft store in the US. I was hoping to find some interesting little things to take home, but the selection at Sur la Table in the States is actually better.
Early summer produce was already flowing in - there were mountains of stone fruit, cherries, plums, nectarines and apricots all looking absolutely perfect and beautiful.
Just about every third or fourth shop on Rue Montorgueil is a fromagerie, all of them carrying a dazzling selection. In San Diego we have a grand total of three stores like this - all of which are owned by the same company. I'm not complaining, but the volume here truly is astounding.
Sadly, I was not permitted to take any pictures of the beautiful displays of baked goods in the patisseries and boulangeries. The picture thing was really a problem in Paris - NOBODY wants you to take pictures inside any kind of store, and most of them have large signs up and will really yell at you if you violate their policy. They couldn't stop me from taking a few on the outside though - Stohrer has a beautiful shop front and mosaic entry as well as a dazzling display of pastries, breads and sandwiches.

A lot of cafes also have these inlaid entries. These are pretty much a thing of the past in the U.S. - a few have been preserved but they're usually throwbacks to a bygone era when the business had another name.
Just around the corner from Rue Montorgueil is La Droguerie - stocking ribbon, yarn, buttons, beads and other accoutrement for sewing projects. I did snap a photo in there when I thought no one was looking, just before the clerk dove in front of my phone screeching at me.
One area I would have liked to explore further was the Rue des Martyrs and Oberkampf. I biked up there on my first day in town, but everything was closed for the holiday. I had a book with me full of listings for trendy stores called the "eat shop" guide - and it had listings for a lot of fun places in that area - vintage stores, thrift shops, antique shops and cafes - most of which looked to be relatively affordable. When I go back I will definitely try to spend more time there. I will also try to make sure I go on a day when the flea market is open. That is something I have always wanted to do but it's never worked out quite right. There is a vendor at the flea market selling nothing but used vintage Hermes and other high end bags. (Be still my heart!) Speaking of Hermes, after exploring the Les Halles/Montorgueil area, I hopped on a Velib bike and rode uptown to find Pierre Herme and pay a visit to the Hermes flagship store on Rue Faubourg. (No relation between the two, at least that I know of.) I'm a bit of a fangirl. I used to have a vintage Kelly bag but I sold it to buy a plane ticket many years ago. It was a tough decision, but it had worn through holes in the corners that couldn't be fixed. I have a couple of scarves and am jonesing for a belt, and maybe a bag again someday - but on this occasion I was just window shopping. I didn't take any pictures at Pierre Herme, because - guess why - but the shop is a gorgeous little jewel box just a few blocks away.
All in all, Paris is great - amazing even. It's something you just have to do, but you just can't expect it to be the be all end all compared to everywhere else in the world. I've eaten better (on the low-ish end) in San Francisco and New York - maybe that is in part because I know where to go in those cities and they're a little easier to navigate without the language barrier - but I don't think that's all there is to it. Other cities have gotten better, while Paris has stayed largely the same, or maybe even become a bit bogged down by all the tourist hordes that descend on a daily basis, looking for the flakiest croissants, the most sublime oysters, and most ethereal bread. If you look in the right places, I'm sure you can find those things - but you can in most other major cities in the world these days too. In spite of all my complaining, I did manage to eat pretty well while in Paris. I'm working on a separate post about that - coming soon!

Kale with Baked Eggs & Cherry Tomatoes

2012-07-25T20:06:00.001-07:00

I posted this photo over on Instagram earlier this week when I made this for dinner, and it received such an enthusiastic response I thought I'd post the recipe over here. It was inexpensive, delicious, easy, healthy and quick - all the things you want in a weeknight meal! Hope you are eating well this week!

Kale with Baked Eggs & Cherry Tomatoes
Serves 2

Olive Oil (decent quality, but not necessarily your very best)
1-2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
red pepper flakes

A handful of cherry tomatoes - halved if more than 1/2 inch across
A Head of Kale - thinly sliced crosswise down to the point where the center ribs become thick (if the center ribs are especially large, remove them before slicing)
4 eggs

Salt, Pepper & fresh Reggiano Parmesan cheese for grating & lemon if desired

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. In a medium/large oven-safe frying pan, gently heat enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan with a tiny bit of depth - about an eighth of an inch. Add a few generous shakes of chile flakes and the sliced garlic and cook gently for five minutes over medium heat, to infuse the oil with the flavors. If the garlic starts to brown, the heat is too high. (Remove any garlic slices that burn or turn deep brown.)

Add the cherry tomatoes to the hot oil and cook about 3 minutes, until slightly softened. Add the sliced kale and toss with the hot oil to coat. When the kale just starts to wilt, crack the eggs into the pan and put the pan into the oven. Set the timer for 10 minutes and turn the oven light on. Cook until the eggs are just opaque but still runny (the yolks should jiggle if you shake the pan.) Remove from the oven and grate a generous amount of parmesan cheese over the whole thing, and season with salt and pepper and a squirt of lemon on the kale. Serve with toasted baguette or sourdough bread. (You can also just put a lid on the pan and cook the eggs that way if you don't want to turn on your oven, but the kale may get a little brown.)

France, 2012 - The Rest of Monflanquin and Villeneuve Sur Lot

2012-07-09T07:02:00.001-07:00

When not touring around the local area or taking field trips to Bordeaux, my time in Southwestern France was spent mostly in Monflanquin, a small town in the Lot et Garonne region (#47 to be exact). This is where my friend Vince has a house that I stayed in for the first half of my trip. One evening we picnicked at a table perched on the edge of the hill the town sits on - so much so that there is a bench only one side of the table. The view was incredible and the food simple but perfect. (Now that I think about it, this was a recurring theme in France.)
On other evenings, we went exploring on the trails spiraling down the hill and around the town...

And we ate in the local restaurants. There are three almost literally within a stones throw of the house. One is directly next door, with a terrace you can see from the kitchen window (we call it "the bar") as in "I'm going down to the bar for a coffee." The thing to do here is order the "menu" - a set meal of two courses with a "verre de vin" (glass of wine) and coffee for 12 Euros.
This Lebanese restaurant run by a lovely couple is just across the street from Vince's house. It is brand new and when we told them it was Vince's birthday they pulled out all the stops. Eventually we had to tell them to stop bringing us food. (The fact that it was just across the street was also very handy when I started nodding off after the digestif.)
They had the cutest little dog. Just one more reason to love France - they treat their dogs like people. Now that I think about it, the dogs act like people too.
We had a post dinner love-fest with him in the lounging area of the restaurant - where you take your aperitif, and your digestif or apre dinner coffee. This would never happen in the U.S. (Either the lounging area or the dog.)
One morning we went to the nearby town of Villeneuve sur Lot - about twenty minutes away. This is the place for your big box stores, the hospital, police station... All of those things you need but don't necessarily want to look at. They have a big market on Saturday mornings, making it a good day for an excursion.

A large indoor market building houses the prepared foods, charcuterie, meats, seafood and poultry - including hot rotisserie chickens.
We went to a cafe for coffee, and they didn't have pastries but the server pointed Vince in the direction of a nearby bakery called B. Letainturier. Specifically, I think she said, "There is one there, but the good one is over THERE." The pastries Vince brought back were so good I had to find the bakery and check it out. They had gorgeous desserts and chocolates. (I got a box for the friend I was staying with in Paris.) I didn't get any good photos of the place itself, but I did manage a nice shot of these little "cochons" in the case.
We also snagged a piece of this "crostade" which though simple was fantastic. I was really impressed with this place.
On Sunday, my last morning in Monflanquin before catching the train to Paris, we went to the "Vide Grenier" - a local sale sort of like a flea market - but with individual families selling their wares. It's basically like a massive garage sale, and the prices vary wildly. I was limited in what I could buy because I could only carry so much home (and I still wound up having to mail a box!) but it was really hard to resist some of this stuff.

I wound up picking up a few things: a set of stainless steel footed gelato dishes like these that I had been looking for so long I couldn't believe my luck (3 euros!), a couple of Ricard aperitif glasses, a tablecloth, some vintage postcards, a vintage toy accordion, a beautifully illustrated vintage copy of "Puss in Boots" in French. I think I walked around the whole time saying "I wish I'd brought an extra suitcase." That would have just been a problem though, since Air France coach only allows one 25 kilo piece of checked baggage per person and I was over as it was.
From the "vide" we went straight to the train station at Agen, where I boarded the TGV for the half day journey to Paris Gare Montparnasse - more on that coming soon!

Bardot Bars - La Jolla

2012-07-01T12:16:00.002-07:00

When I was up in La Jolla last week checking out Ariccia Italian Market, I couldn't resist stopping in the new Bardot Bars store - a shop on Prospect selling fancy ice cream bars. I was intrigued for a few reasons. For one thing, the whole concept just seems so ridiculous. It's a store that sells ice cream bars! For $5.50 a pop! In one of the most expensive real estate locations in town! I can't help but wonder how many they have to sell per hour to pay the rent there overlooking the ocean.
Secondly, they looked so pretty in the pictures with the assorted colors and designs on them, and I kinda wondered how they did that. (The answer - stencils.) Third, their marketing materials are almost unbelievably pretentious. They claim to sell not ice cream bars, but "Love. On a Stick." That sort of hubris begs to be tested. I also have sort of a long-standing fascination with both hi-lo mashups and frozen ice cream novelties. I am obsessed with the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck in NYC and dream about opening something like that here. (How could it not be a huge hit? The beach! The parks! Why didn't these people do that instead??) Also? I really just wanted an ice cream bar.

When I walked in, the place was empty but for the owner and a couple of employees who were busy squeegeeing the very fancy custom freezer case that is the centerpiece of the shop. It's a cool looking design - but the bars inside were damp too, and some had frost on them. The owner was fretting about it, but it isn't really a problem for customers because they bring the bars they are serving from the back of the shop. He seemed like a nice guy, and told me they make the bars in Mexico and they are opening two other shops in the LA area very soon - in Covina and Arcadia to be exact.
The bars are divided into two categories "Classic" and "Bardot" - I couldn't discern much rhyme or reason to the distinction between the two categories, but the Bardot bars cost 40 cents more than the Classic ($5.40 or $5.80). Most of them are familiar flavor combinations with clever fancy names. There is a coffee one, a mint one called "Deep Thoughts," a strawberry cheesecake called "New York, NY" and a Key Lime named "Southern Belle." They told me they had actually sold out of their cookies and cream flavor the day before.

I ordered a box of six, in order to give them a college try, and to ensure I would get the special dry ice packaging - which is free with a purchase of six or more since I had to drive back across town with them. (Apparently I was only the third person to do this.)

I really liked the Mrs. Peanut (below) - a combination of peanut ice cream, caramel and chopped peanuts coated with milk chocolate and the mint one (with a green key) was good too, but I cannot recommend the strawberry cheesecake, key lime or pecan flavors. For all the bars, the ice cream should be creamier and the coating needs to be thicker.
Clearly they are relying on walk-in business, based on the location and their stylish boutique atmosphere, which is certainly lovely. Sad to say though, I just don't think what they're selling right now for $5. apiece is any better than what grocery stores are selling for far, far less. As much as I love the idea of supporting a local business, I'd take a good old fashioned Dove bar over theirs any day of the week.

Bardot Bars
1025 Prospect St
(between Jose's and The Splotch, I mean The Spot)
La Jolla, CA 92037

Ariccia Italian Market - La Jolla

2012-06-29T00:17:00.003-07:00

Until now, as far as I'm aware, there really hasn't been a place to get a good Porchetta sandwich here in San Diego. (Somebody is probably going to tell me I'm wrong about that, but that's ok because we can always use more.)
The porchetta panini at the new Ariccia Italian Market in La Jolla is here to change that. It's made with their own housemade porchetta, pictured below, a balsamic onion marmalade and Suzie's Farm arugula, piled onto a Sadie Rose ciabatta bun and grilled on a panini press until hot and crunchy. Their porchetta is a pork belly tightly wrapped around a pork loin with seasonings and bits of pork skin - roasted and served sliced. The combination of the rich, salty meat with bits of skin, the sweet onion marmalade and arugula is really just about perfect.
Open just a couple of weeks, Ariccia stocks top quality Italian and gourmet grocery items like charcuterie, cheeses, olives, Amarena cherries and fresh housemade pasta and the deli offers two panini sandwiches including the Porchetta and a mozzarella and tomato option (with more to come) and a daily soup. It was a creamless corn soup on the day I visited - I didn't try it, but the guy seated next to me at the bar said it was fabulous.
They also have a serious coffee bar and use top quality beans that they also sell in the shop. To go with the coffee they sell croissants from a local hole-in-the wall bakery in Encinitas. (They must be good, they were almost sold out on Sunday morning.) They've sought out local producers wherever possible and the rest of their goods come from the best sources they can find.
They're still working on the selection of goods - they told me they will be adding chocolate and candies - I'd love to see some biscotti or Italian cookies too ala Mozza 2 Go, but I don't know if they have the bakery facilities or a good source.

They're stocked up with whole foie gras and torchon in advance of the ban - only two days left. If you want some you know where to go!
They also had a pretty interesting selection of charcuterie including duck prosciutto and the "Angel" line from a guy who lives in North County but produces his goods in Los Angeles. I bought one to try and wasn't crazy about the clove flavor of the one I picked, but there are a few different types.

I was also taken with these pretty little bags of potato chips fried in olive oil with pink himelayan salt. Olive oil - that makes them healthy, right?
All in all, I think Ariccia has fantastic potential. The owners know what they like and want to bring it to the market, and they're curating an interesting selection of items not available elsewhere in San Diego. They just need to work on filling and organizing their space, setting up better ordering and service systems (it's a little haphazard) and getting a full menu in place for their deli to keep customers coming back. Once you've got them in the door they're more likely to pick up a few of those $10. pantry items. Or maybe it's the other way around - they go for the top quality olive oil or fresh pasta, and walk out with lunch. Either way, it's a winning proposition.

Ariccia Italian Market
7441 A Girard, (near the Pannikin)
La Jolla, CA
858-551-7675 (PORK)

France, 2012 - Bordeaux

2012-06-25T10:56:00.003-07:00

One of the highlights (maybe even the highlight) of my trip to France was a day trip to Bordeaux from Monflanquin (about a two hour drive.) Vince called it "Mini Paris" - and I can't disagree. It's jammed with cafes, shops and similarly beautiful architecture, but missing the crowds that can make Paris feel a bit oppressive. One thing I wanted to do on this trip was eat least one fine dining meal, preferably at a restaurant with a Michelin star. Not that I put so much stock in Michelin stars, but if you are going to eat at a Michelin restaurant might as well do it in France, non?
I researched the fine dining options near Monflanquin and didn't come up with many good prospects. Then the day trip to Bordeaux came up, and the options expanded dramatically. Even so, the runaway favorite was clear - Restaurant Gabriel in Place de la Bourse (pictured above) was at the top of everyone's list. It was also Vince's birthday that day, a great excuse to do it up. We had planned to do the three course menu, but upgraded to the five course "Menu du Marche" when we saw the choices. (Isn't that always the way?) They also offer a nine course "Degustation" topping out at around 95 Euros (about $130.00). Downstairs they also have a "Brasserie" with less formal food and service and presumably lower prices. They offer wine pairings but we did not indulge, for fear we would be incapacitated for the rest of the day (not to mention the drive home.) Instead, we started with aperitifs and shared a bottle of white wine with the meal.
The aperitifs - a glass of champagne for me and a pastis with mint syrup for Vince - were served in the lobby bar with this tray of little amuses. The common theme was potato and we were instructed to eat them from the outside in. The outside one was creamy whipped purple potato puree on a roasted baby potato shell with a purple potato chip. The second one was firm mashed potato with a layer of sausage in the middle, and the middle one was a sweet gelee with chopped bits of potato in it. I enjoyed them exactly in descending order - the first was the fabulous, the second was very good, and the third was.....well, interesting.
When we were seated upstairs we received another amuse bouche - a bite of beet and potato over a layer of apple gelee with a spot of whipped creme fraiche. This was really nice, and was served with fabulous warm cheese rolls and butter. The dining room was beautiful too, with the white walls, tablecloths and chairs accented by plank wood floors and bright details. The service was impeccable - formal but warm and welcoming.
There were two choices for four of the five courses, so we agreed to try one of each. For the first course I received an unusual combination of foie gras pressed with sturgeon and a carrot and celery gelee. I wasn't fond of the foie and sturgeon together, but the foie was fabulous on its own, and it certainly was pretty.
Vince was the clear winner of this round, with his "Oeuf Cocotte" with asparagus and chorizo cream. This dish was divine. The cream had an airy, mousse-like texture and vibrant rich and spicy flavor.

I think I squeaked out a victory on the second course though, with my "Cabillaud Roti" (roast cod) with polenta and white wine sauce. They brought out a small pitcher of the sauce and proceeded to pour a small amount over the fish, leaving the rest on the table. It was one of the best sauces I have ever tasted, and I was tempted to tip up the rest of the pitcher. If I'd been another glass of wine or two in, it just might have happened.
Vince's entree was a "cuit doucement" (sous vide) veal tenderloin with a demi glace-based sauce and a slightly odd cigar-shaped log of orange scented sweet potato. The meat was flavorful and amazingly tender due to the cut and cooking technique and the sauce was a perfect foil. Vince was very happy with it, but I think I might have wished for a more savory accompaniment.
Next came the "fromage" course - a small dollop of a mousse made from Mimolette cheese, topped with tiny croutons and cubes of pear and shaved aged Mimolette. Mimolette is one of my very favorite cheeses and this preparation was entirely new to me, so this dish was a welcome surprise. If you order the Degustation, they bring the cheese cart to your table for you to select an assortment - we saw them doing that for some other diners in the room.
Desserts were next. Mine was a chilled milk chocolate mousse with salted caramel and "praline de cacahuetes" (peanut brittle) served with "glace snickers." It was the perfect combination of all those quintessential candy bar flavors, creamy, sweet and salty. Vince had the fruit dessert, a Savarin with fruit and mousse made from fromage frais. It was fine, but utterly forgettable. So much so, I even forgot to take a picture of it.
Next and last came these beautiful mignardises, based on cherries.
After reviving ourselves with a couple of stiff shots of espresso served after the meal, we toddled out into the bright sunshine to walk to the "Brocante" - the open-air antiques market in the center of town.
On the way we walked over to the Monument au Girondin, a beautiful landmark fountain, and through the antique district, past beautiful store fronts full of decor items like this amazing French encaustic tile.
We stopped to ask directions on the way, so we knew we were close when we saw the Church of St. Louis.
The Brocante is a covered, open air market just on the other side of the Cathedral. Most of the goods seemed to be smaller items - lots of glassware, china, silver, books, etc. The prices were high, but it made for some good browsing. I'm kind of kicking myself that I didn't at least ask how much these 50's Michelin guides were, but based on the fact that the fan behind them was around $100 I am guessing they were out of reach.
This display reminds me of "Midnight in Paris" - I hear the theme music in my head every time I look at it.
This French educational poster was the one thing I bought. These posters were used in schools in France from the 50s to the 70s. The kids were asked to talk about what they saw in the pictures - generally they depict street scenes, neighborhoods and every day activities. Some also depict historical events, and there are larger ones with anatomy and botanical charts. Many are double sided and they are all vibrantly colored. I first saw some of these at an antique store in Los Angeles years ago, but the posters were in bad shape and were priced over $200. Still, I've always regretted not buying one I saw of a neighborhood with children playing in the streets with chickens and animals running around, and mothers in kerchiefs watching over the scene. They didn't have that one at the Brocante, but I was taken with this garden scene - with Grandpere and the kids tending to the family plot. It's even double sided - with quite a dichotomy between this lovely pastoral scene and the other depicting a Bus Stop.) I bought it for 25 Euros, and would have bought more if I could have found another one I loved.
After leaving the antiques market we took a long, winding stroll through town to get back to the car. We walked down Rue St. Catherine, the "High Street" of the town. It was a busy sea of people as far as the eye could see, but not crushingly crowded at least.
It was a hot day in Bordeaux, at least 80 degrees, and as we strolled past Place Camille Jullien (below) I was craving something cool and refreshing. A cone of passionfruit and lemon sorbet hit the spot perfectly. I don't remember the shop's name, but it was a walk-up window just a little further toward the river from this spot.
Eventually we wound our way back to Place de la Bourse - where the "mirror" - a huge area covered by a shallow pool of water on the plaza across the street - was thick with people trying to beat the heat. (This was actually taken earlier in the day - it was much busier in the afternoon.)
Bordeaux is definitely on my list for a longer stay - one day was not nearly enough. It's one of the most famous wine regions of France and we didn't even begin to scratch the surface there. I'd also like to visit Brittany (home of the famous sea salt caramels) and possibly even Normandy though I'm hardly a war buff. And the list grows ever longer!

France, 2012

2012-06-17T19:55:00.002-07:00

After a great four days in San Francisco, I flew nonstop to Paris and then on to Toulouse to visit a friend of mine who has a house in the village of Monflanquin, a small bastide town in Southwestern France. I expected the flight to be cramped and uncomfortable, but traveling on Air France was actually not bad. The food was terrible, but the Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top champagne they served before the meal and Cognac they poured after helped a lot - as did the salami, butter and cornichon sandwich I brought from Acme Bakery. If you don't like the meal - a choice of Salmon Parmentier or Coq au Vin (it sounds so much better in French!) - they also put out little sandwiches, cookies and crackers and self-service non-alcoholic beverages, and on the way back from Paris there were Haagen Dazs ice cream bars.
When I arrived in Toulouse, my friend Vince met me at the airport and we headed into town for a bite to eat at a cafe on the square in town. It was mid-afternoon by that time, and I was doing pretty well with the jet lag so my goal was just to get a little sunshine and stay up until after dark. I indulged in a "Salade Soud Ouest" - topped with foie gras, since it's a local delicacy in the Southwest of France. It was interesting to see how commonplace foie is there - in contrast with the ban going into effect here in just a few weeks. It's available everywhere for sale, and on almost every menu in the region, and the countryside is dotted with farms. (I generally saw it served and packaged as a torchon - never seared.)
After lunch and a brief peek into the spectacular Toulouse Cathedral just a few blocks away, Vince drove me to back to Monflanquin to settle in. I quickly realized that I was incredibly lucky - not just because the house and village were lovely but because Vince was a fantastic host and tour guide - pointing out the local landmarks and telling funny stories about his own travels in France.
I had this bedroom complete with wrought iron balcony and a separate bathroom all to myself for four nights. The rest of this floor of the house consists of a living room and a farmhouse style eat-in kitchen. Upstairs is the master bedroom and bath and another bedroom with two twin beds. Another flight up on the spiral wooden staircase is a roof deck with a spectacular view.
As a matter of fact, just about everywhere in Monflanquin offers a spectacular view since the town sits on a hill, sloping down down from a high point where the main square and cathedral are located. This was the view out the window in front.
And this is what you see when you turn around and look up the street toward the square which is directly to the left, just around the corner.
On Thursdays, the town comes alive when the Market arrives in the square. There are vendors offering everything from produce and prepared foods to plants, local honey, clothes and jewelry.My personal favorite vendor was the cheese truck. You always hear about cheese in France, and it's absolutely true - the variety and quantities available are dazzling. Same for the bread and wine, incidentally - they are almost always good and inexpensive. (Sadly, the same cannot be said of the croissants.)
Speaking of croissants, on my first day in Monflanquin, we started off a little road trip with a stop at the boulangerie just down the hill - outside the old walled portion of the town. It's the best one around according to Vince, and the canneles did not disappoint. They are a bit of a regional specialty - from Bordeaux which is about 2 hours away. (The croissants were just ok.)
Our first stop was the village of Cadouin - reached after a winding drive through the beautiful green countryside and a short detour through the village of Monpazier. Cadouin is a commune (village) in the Dordogne famous for its 10th century Abbey, seen at the right in this picture.It's a picturesque spot and we walked around a bit looking at the traditional architecture, poked around the Abbey and bought some things at a small market they had set up in the square.
The owner of the stand pictured below had a small shop selling foie gras, truffles and other local delicacies including aged goat cheese "buttons" that are delicious on levain toast. The truffles and foie gras weren't cheap but they are less than you would pay here, and much less than prices in Paris. You may have heard of truffles from Perigord - Perigord is the name of the former province that lay roughly where the Dordogne is now, so we were in prime truffle country. I had hoped to bring some home, but I wasn't sure about the customs rules (though supposedly they are allowed.)
Next we headed to Chateau Marqueyssac for lunch. This hilltop property was originally developed in the 17th century by a counselor to Louis the XIV and is most notable for the gardens which stretch out behind the house in an oblong shape with a looping path for exploring. The boxwood gardens were planted in the 1800s and had fallen into disrepair when the new owner bought the property and restored them in 1996.
The chateau itself is tiny - you walk through and up some stairs to come out on the back side where there is a nice restaurant overlooking the valley and a beautiful pergola covering outdoor tables sitting along the edge overlooking the view. It was a gloomy day so we sat inside, but on a warm day I am sure it's a beautiful spot. I made the mistake of ordering a croque monsieur. Though it looks good, the bread was soggy from the bechamel sauce and it was just a little bland.
Vince wisely ordered the menu du jour, which included Rilette de Lapin (potted bunny) with a salad, and a dessert course of one of those aged goat cheese buttons on levain with a bit of salad and a walnut. It also included a "verre de vin" as do most menus - and we shared a small carafe of rose. (I drank rose like it was iced tea in France.)
After lunch we strolled the gardens which are notable for their geometric precision, the fact that they are uniformly green (no flowers, at least not at this time of year) and the waterfall that flows through the property from the back to front in a tiny carved out channel. This map really shows the scale and layout.
The most famous and arguably most beautiful part of the garden is the grouping of boxwoods below called the "Bastion" - designed to resemble sheep in a flock.
After exploring the gardens we headed to nearby Chateau des Milandes - owned by Josephine Baker from the 40's to the 60's. It is privately owned but open for tours and there are a number of exhibits set up inside as well as gardens and a cafe. They also do a "Birds of Prey" show several times a day, much like the one at the Wild Animal Park - we didn't sit through it, but it was going on while we were there.
Several of Josephine's dresses were on display inside as well as posters and other ephemera from her life and career.
The best piece though, has to be the banana belt from her most famous costume. Josephine herself was pretty amazing. You can read about her history here. She was a civil rights activist and spy as well as a famous cabaret and burlesque performer - and raised 12 adopted children at the Chateau.
Apparently in its heydey the Chateau included a mini golf course and swimming pool - neither of which are in evidence now, but the gardens are still quite lovely.
After all that, we're only through day one! Don't worry, I won't write a separate post for each day of the trip - though I probably could. All of my photos are here if you want to check them out. I'll be back in a few days with more on Monflanquin and the surrounding area including Villeneuve Sur Lot, Bordeaux and of course, Paris!

P.S. - if this looks like fun to you - the house I stayed in is a vacation rental and is available about ten months out of the year - check it out here! )

Outerlands - San Francisco

2012-06-11T13:35:00.002-07:00

Unless you're a die-hard restaurant groupie or live in the Avenues, chances are you probably haven't been to Outerlands. It's aptly named, sitting in the farthest reaches of the Outer Sunset - and though the food is good, the crowds thick and and the setting delightful, it's definitely a neighborhood place. I first heard about it a couple of years ago and have been dying to try it since. We finally got the chance when we stayed in the neighborhood a few weeks ago for the Bay to Breakers race. Knowing the finish line was nearby, I found our VRBO by typing in the address of Outerlands on the map. It worked out well - not only were we walking distance from the finish line and Outerlands, but a cluster of other cool spots including Beachside, Java Beach and the lovely General Store boutique.
Outerlands is open for breakfast and lunch on weekends and dinner only Tues - Fri. It's tiny and they don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait. We arrived around 7 for dinner on Saturday night and waited at least an hour. The pain was eased by their artisan cocktails - this is the kind of place where they gently stir the booze instead of shaking and the drinks are small but strong.
The one on the left was made with gin (and little else) and a pickled shallot, and the one on the right was a rye concoction with citrus. The rye one was my favorite of the two. They also make a mean caipirinha with cachaca, kumquats and mint.
The interior has a charming hobbit-y woodsy look that makes it feel like a secret hideaway. They're expanding soon into at least one space next door and possibly two - which should mean shorter waits, but may also change the character of the place.
The menu is small but inventive and reasonably priced. Our party of six tried just about everything. Don't miss the toasted levain bread - it's phenomenal. We ordered it with the cheese, but the butter would have been just fine. The asparagus salad was a standout spring dish - lightly steamed with preserved lemon, sesame, mushrooms and fresh cheese. The tips were left whole, but the stalks were shaved into ribbons.
I had the duck confit for my main. My only complaint was that there wasn't quite enough of it, and I'm not generally one to complain about that. It was perfectly cooked though, and the savory, crisp meat paired nicely with the sweetness of the pickled plums.
A couple of people in our party had the shrimp and grits, with ham, snap peas and fresh dill. A few bites of this rich and hearty dish helped make up for the tininess of mine.
of the few desserts we tried, this Key Lime Cake was my favorite - a small wedge of buttery cake, topped with a lacy caramelized crisp and a bit of cream, garnished with fresh lime and raspberry. We also had a pot de creme topped with "rosemary caramel corn" that I think everyone else liked better than I did.
We didn't try going back for brunch, but the crowds are apparently out of control - with two-hour plus waits. Instead, we had breakfast just down the street at Beachside - an offshoot of Java Beach coffee. It's a cute spot and they serve good waffles and a lovely eggs benedict layered on a freshly split popover - but be prepared for a healthy dose of hipster attitude with your breakfast. (This is one of those places where they are so "serious" about the coffee that they don't serve their espresso drinks hot enough.) We went early to beat the crowds, but I would bet they have a line by 9 AM. They also serve lunch and dinner - the menu mostly consists of sandwiches and fried chicken over slaw or on a sandwich (they also serve chicken and waffles for breakfast.) The General Store boutique is also in that area - with a smartly curated selection of gifts and jewelry made by local artisans. We also popped into Trouble Coffee on Sunday morning after the race. I wasn't crazy about the cup of coffee I had and they also do the super duper hipster attitude thing, but it was really crowded after the race, their pastries looked good, and they have a really cool tree out front that you can sit on and drink your coffee.

We had other good meals on this trip at Out the Door, Pizzeria Delfina and Zuni - and then I got on a plane and flew to France! I still kind of can't believe it myself. It was awesome and I will be back to talk about it soon!!

Outerlands
4001 Judah St (between 45th Ave & 46th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 661-6140
closed Sunday dinner and Mondays all day
Dinner only Tues - Fri.
Brunch/Lunch from 10-3 on Saturdays and Sundays.
Dinner also on Sat.

My Trader Joe's Favorites

2012-05-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Why hello there! Yes, it's been awhile, and though I feel a little silly coming back with something like this, it tells you something about where my head is right now. These days it's all about putting a decent, healthy meal on the table in the after-work hours without spending a fortune. Sound familiar? I am guessing it does. These "Trader Joes" lists go around periodically - usually focused on what tastes good, but I'm going to try to tell you the things we like because they're not only tasty, but economical and versatile too. I'll even tell you a little bit about what I do with them. Then I'll tell you about the things I buy because I just can't resist, 'cause there are plenty of those too, and everyone deserves a treat now and then.

Let's call this first group the meal staples:

organic baby arugula (pictured above) - the small leaves are tender and mild, and it lasts longer than the bagged lettuce.
bags of 4 avocados - reasonably priced at $3.49, and almost always ripe in a day or two. (Tip: if you need ripe avocados stat, try the guacamole kit.)
organic cherry/pear tomato mix - great roasted. just toss with olive oil and bake on a parchment lined sheet pan at 275 until they start to shrivel (about 1-1.5 hours.) Toss with pasta, put on pizza, mash on a panini, etc. store in the fridge in a jar covered with olive oil.
packaged cooked beluga lentils - great addition to a salad, or toss with chopped fresh vegetables, herbs, vinaigrette and a little goat cheese.
frozen mahi mahi - total lifesaver. Just thaw, pat dry & saute or bake - makes great fish tacos or put it in a salad. around $5.00 for a package that feeds two.
chevre (aka goat cheese) - the one in the 8 oz package with the brown and black label. It's nice and soft and always tastes good. Crumble in salads or spread on bread, or use to stuff sweet, hot cherry peppers.
whole organic chickens - they're not exactly cheap but they're a bargain compared to whole foods prices or the pre-cut packaged pieces. If I can't get to the Hillcrest Farmers Market to get one from Curtis (Womach) I'll pick a smallish one (under 5 lbs) and either roast it whole - dry brined ala Zuni in a cast iron skillet at 425 for an hour or so - or cut the breasts off and turn them into cutlets, and use the rest to make stock.
the Spanish olive oil - glug glug glug... all over everything.
The instant mushroom risotto - I was skeptical, but it's pretty amazing. No added fat - just broth.
the organic jarred marinara sauce - take half a cup of the pre-chopped onion (or onion/shallot/garlic mix if they have it) and saute in chicken broth or olive oil until soft. Sprinkle liberally with red pepper flakes, add a cup of red wine, reduce a bit. Pour in the jar of sauce and simmer a bit to let the flavors blend. Serve over spaghetti with turkey meatballs or sausage.

and this group will be the treats. Those things that are good, if not so good for you.

the 72% organic fair trade dark chocolate bars. They have many good dark chocolate options, but these are my fave. In the flat package with the green/brown box.
the salted blister peanuts. with a bourbon cocktail?? enough said.
cheese sticks. with champagne? Again...
the Tarte d'Alsace or Tarte d'Champignon (pictured above) put one of those in the oven and pour yourself a nice glass of cold white wine at the end of a long day. You won't be sorry.
the Truffle Brownie mix - for years I went on and on about the perfect brownie. Yadda yadda. Since I tried this I have made brownies from scratch exactly once. True story. (p.s. - the Baked recipe is truly the best out there - so now its all sorted.)
the chocolate covered raisins. So good we never buy them anymore.
the ice cream - it's Double Rainbow, packaged with Trader Joes labeling. I can't get the mint chip, because I can't leave it alone, but we usually keep the vanilla on hand. The little baby drumstick cones are good too (esp. the chocolate.)
the Trader Josef's coffee cake mix - just discovered this one, but it's a keeper. Great fluffy texture, lots of nutmeg in the topping and no weird ingredients.
also for breakfast: the pain au chocolat - let them thaw for a minute or two on the counter, then separate and allow to rise in the oven overnight before baking (I think everybody knows about these now.)
the chocolate macarons. Really. In the fresh bakery section with the coffee cakes and stuff.

I'll be back in a few days to talk about a couple of recent dining out experiences. Au revoir!

photo from instagram, where I've been spending quite a bit of time lately - user name aliceqfoodie (surprise!)

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I was fighting a craving for a milkshake when I came up with this slightly healthier alternative. It's just nutritious enough to be something more than a dessert, but super creamy and rich with all the flavors of banana cream pie. It's amazing how much difference one tablespoon of cream makes. If you don't already keep frozen bananas on hand for smoothies or baking, just take ripe bananas and break them in thirds, and freeze in a ziploc bag. If you're feeling extra indulgent, whip in a teaspoon of peanut butter too. It will make the transition from the debauchery of the holidays to new year's resolutions that much easier!

Banana Cream Pie "Smoothie"

3 oz frozen banana (75 cals)

1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder (100 cals)

1 teaspoon granulated sugar (10 cals)

1 Tablespoon heavy whipping cream (50 cals)

1/2 cup nonfat/skim milk (45 cals) (you could also approximate the skim milk/cream blend with a blend of whatever you have on hand - lowfat, half and half, etc. )

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 shortbread cookie or graham cracker (check package for cals).

Fold a paper towel over the shortbread cookie or graham cracker and crush with the heel of your hand. Use the paper to dump the crumbs into a small bowl.

Place the frozen banana, scoop of protein powder, sugar, whipping cream, vanilla extract and milk in a blender or cup for a hand blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add about 1 teaspoon of the crumbs and pulse lightly just to stir them in. Pour the smoothie into a glass and sprinkle some crumbs on top. Drink with a straw.

makes 1 serving = 280 cals (plus crumbs.)

(one serving is the amount pictured, divided into two glasses.)

Underbelly - San Diego {Dining Review}

2012-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not very knowledgeable about ramen (or, let's face it, Japanese cuisine in general) but I am curious - so I was excited to try Underbelly, the new ramen-centric eatery in Little Italy recently opened by the folks behind Neighborhood and Craft & Commerce. It replaced the late Red Velvet wine bar at the corner of Kettner and Fir - on the west side of the same block as Bencotto and Influx.

The first thing you need to know about Underbelly, especially if you're planning to go at night, is that it's cold. Every surface in the restaurant is metal or glass, and the windows are kept wide open, even in the winter. It was sprinkling on the night we were there, and our table was actually one of the windows - so that half of our party was indoors and half was out on the sidewalk. They're also a little aggressive about their "rules." When I first walked in, the bartender/cashier/hostess/server barked at me that I needed to order before sitting down. I had to fend her off by explaining that my husband was already at the bar and we were meeting a larger party. The room is small and seating is limited, so I guess it makes sense that they would like for people to place their orders, eat, and get out relatively quickly - but it isn't a very welcoming approach.

We ordered almost every starter on the menu to try as much as possible. The "boiled peanuts" arrived first and I was afraid they didn't bode well for the rest of the meal. Soggy and strangely flavored, they were a definite miss. The "Ahi Tataki" was nice enough, sauced with a ponzu dressing and served over assorted bean sprouts - but I can't really say it was better than any other seared ahi I've been served in the past twenty years.

These rest of the starters followed in a similar vein - inoffensive, but nothing extra. The descriptions on the menu somehow made them sound much more interesting than they turned out to be. The little Kurobuta Sausages were ok - not too greasy - maybe they could have been hotter. The "house made kim chi" underneath seemed perfunctory. I didn't even remember it was there until I looked at the menu again just now. I liked the "Ginger Beef Brisket Mushu" all right - the sweet shredded beef wrapped in mushu pancakes tasted something like Japanese barbecue.

By far the best of the bunch were the Shrimp Gyoza. They had a nice crisp/tender exterior, good flavor, and the pea shoots on top were fantastic. I'm not sure why there are whole garlic gloves on the plate - I'm pretty sure nobody ate them.

The ramen options are a bit complicated. They offer several different set combinations, and you have the option to add just all of the toppings they offer - plus a few more - to any bowl. We tried three of their set combinations and shared them: the Underbelly, the Belly of the Beast, and Charred Kim Chi. The Underbelly was garnished with pork belly, bacon and the same sausage we'd had as a starter. The "Belly of the Beast" was topped with a brisket, and oxtail dumpling and short rib meat, and the Charred Kim Chi included shishito peppers, rainbow carrots and napa cabbage. I thought the Underbelly and Belly of the Beast were pretty tasty (and pretty similar, really) but I didn't much enjoy the Charred Kim Chi. I was expecting it to have some kim chi "funk" but roasted carrots were pretty much all I could taste in that bowl. Others enjoyed it more than I did. There were eggs in all three bowls and they were well cooked - runny and soft in the center.

You may have heard that Underbelly refuses to provide spoons to diners. This is ridiculous for four reasons that I can think of and possibly more. One, they should know their customers will want to use spoons to eat soup, simple as that. Two, you can't properly taste the dish using chopsticks. Trust me, you will want to pick up a little bit of meat, a little bit of egg, and maybe some scallions and take a bite with a little broth - but sorry, that's just not possible. Third, eating a soft egg with chopsticks is a pain. And fourth, the bowls are huge, and having to pick up the huge basin to slurp the broth is both messy and inconvenient. Underbelly has responded to this criticism by saying they wanted it to be "authentic." Get real. It's obviously not "authentic" in a thousand other ways. This is just a gimmick, like the "no ketchup" rule at their sister restaurant Neighborhood, intended to get people talking.

They do have a great tap craft beer selection (one diner in our party pronounced it the best thing they offer), and I did enjoy the meat based ramen bowls. I probably wouldn't make the cross-town trek for it again, but if I lived in the neighborhood, I could definitely see myself tucking a spoon in my purse and heading to the bar for a bowl of the Belly of the Beast or the Underbelly ramen. If you skip the starters you could easily get out of there for around $25. per person all inclusive - no mean feat in that part of town these days.

P.S. By the way, this thing about not being knowledgeable about ramen is something I plan to change this year - starting with a trip to Convoy for some groceries to try David Chang's recipes in the ramen issue of Lucky Peach. I'll let you know how it goes!

P.P. S. If you are also not as knowledgeable about ramen as you would like to be, there's a great primer here!

Underbelly
750 W Fir St (at Kettner)
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 269-4626
Menu here.

Goodbye 2011...

2011-12-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

Don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out!

Yes, 2011 was a bear in many ways - but as I look back, I'm finding it hard to complain too much. We traveled, we had lots of good food and great times with friends and family and generally enjoyed ourselves quite a bit. On the flip side, there was more sadness and loss around us than we are used to - both in our lives and the lives of some close friends. I hope that's not a continuing trend.

A few weeks ago, I saw a quote that really resonated with me: "Enjoy the little things, for someday you will realize that they were the big things." Late this summer, I had a mini health scare that gave me just enough pause to see the wisdom in this. The things that make my life great are the "little" things - like meeting a friend for coffee and a chat on a weekday morning, making and serving a killer dessert, showing my nieces one of my favorite movies or playing a game with them, reading a book to a two year-old, going to the farmers market or harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden, drinking a great bottle of wine on the patio, putting a vase of gorgeous flowers on the table, roasting a perfect chicken, going to a great yoga class... just being with the people that matter most and enjoying the moments in between the stressful, inevitable realities of life. These are the things that make life good, even when the big picture isn't so rosy.

Regardless, it still feels like it's time for things to start looking up in 2012, doesn't it? Let's hope so. Here's to better times ahead. Salud!

Holidays, 2011

2011-12-28T10:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a good week. We took a few days off before the weekend and spent some time with the girls (our 8 and 11 year old nieces). We played with the puppy, who is growing like a weed and is such a sweetheart we can hardly stand it. I did a lot of baking. Too much, it turns out. One can only eat so much peppermint bark.... (or should, anyway.) To cap it off, on Friday we brought back the now bi-annual Posole party - complete with killer margaritas.

Our Christmas celebration was low key. I received some lovely gifts. The tile is from a local artisan, and my friend Lisa gave me an autographed copy of the Chez Panisse book, and James got me the Clare Vivier tote I asked for. I also got the Milk Bar cookbook and the Chez Panisse menu book. Planning a post on those soon. The jars are Saba, a grape must product that is absolutely delicious, and a small bottle of fine balsamic vinegar - from my personal trainer, because she is a huge foodie. I gave her the Mozza cookbook.

I just harvested the first basket of tangerines the other day. Usually they're ripe in time for Christmas, but not quite this year. We also have Meyer lemons coming in. I've been doing some dining out and need to write up a few new places, and have a year end post in the works so stay tuned...

I hope your holidays were filled with joy and peace and your new year is as well. See you soon!