Damn fine burger!

After watching a show on KPBS on Sunday, all we could thing of was Burger Lounge.   Had to have it.    Fast.
Not our first trip to this party and won't be our last either.
This time we visited the location in Kensington.    We decided last night that this one is second only to Little Italy.    The one in Coronado is to small and hot.   Haven't lounged in La Jolla - yet.
Me and T and Ts sister Juanita went there for a delicious dinner.     T and Juanita had Baby Lounge Burgers.    T had the vegetarian and Juanita had the beef with NO ONIONS.    Sorry, I didn't mean to yell but Juanita gets really, really mad when there are onions on anything.    I went full throttle, burger, fries and salad.   We all shared the salad and fries but still.    After all this food, me and T had a vanilla milk shake too.   YUM.  
Anyone who knows me knows I don't eat beef very often but when I do, it is a lounge burger.    That is how good these things are.    The beef is always done perfectly, the onions I like raw and the bun...oh the bun.    That bun could be a blog entry on it's own.    A pillow of perfection that cradles the beautiful burger in comfort until it is shoved down my gullet.

The fries are great too (same with the onion rings though I didn't have them on this trip) as is the salad.   Tonight we opted for the Cesar but the garden vegetable won't make you sad either.   I like that there are taro strips on the salad instead of croutons.    Nice and crunchy and different.

Some people might think that $8.00 is a bit pricey for a hamburger.    I don't happen to believe this.    This is not a Carls Junior or McDonalds burger.     This is a real, big, fill you up all organic burger.  These cows were coddled while they lived and you can tell that by the way they taste.    The restaurant is green.    Won't find any styrofoam here!

Now about that vanilla milkshake.    

Oh.

My.

God.

Must have about 1/2 gallon of ice cream in it.    Comes to the table in a malt shop glass with whipped cream on top.    Stainless cup with the rest of the milkshake that won't fit in the glass comes too.    Spoon and straw.  Last night it was almost to thick for the straw.   Almost.  

4116 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
Cusine: burgers, fries, onion rings, salads and drinks.  
Dollar Value: Very good.
Service: Very, very friendly
Would I return here: Yes!   Already have.   

Crepes, anyone?!

Special Guest blogger: Stephanie Liuag

Nestled on the 1400 block of what is said to be on the "quiet" side of Little Italy, is Fabrison's. 

A quirky sign invited health nuts and foodies alike to indulge themselves in a little bit of French cuisine. Inside, the wood cabinets were painted a rustic aqua and the floor tiled a dulled checkered pattern which combined to give a very French country vibe. 

We sat ourselves and the waitress/hostess promptly wiped the table and brought us menus and offered us something to drink. The menu featured savory crepes, vegetarian crepes, breakfast crepes, sweet crepes, quiches, and a whole slue of sandwiches. 

After surveying the menu for over ten minutes we decided on splitting the deux fromages (it pretty much had me at "brie cheese") oh and then following it with FOUR dessert crepes. The waitress politely doubted our eating ability but proceeded to write down the following: 

1 deux fromage sandwich, 

1 dark chocolate crepe, 

1 fruit crepe, 

1 nutella crepe, and 

1 lemon and sugar crepe. 

The sandwich was wonderful, and the crepes beautifully presented and enjoyed. They split each crepe and quartered the sandwich to make it easier for us. The menu was reasonable, around $7 to $10, the crepes being about $6.50 to $7.75, which is fairly average. In the front window and along one of the walls they sold table linens, painted butter dishes, and tea sets should you want to continue the French feel at home. One woman came in and bought a huge French baguette that I thought was just going to fall apart because it was so fresh. Hmmm…nutella and French bread anyone? Overall, Fabrison's is a place I would love to "repEAT"; what sweet crepe should you order? Answer: all of the above.

Fabrison's Sweet Cafe and Boutique

1425 India Street

San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 955-8834

 

Not yer typical bean and burrito joint!

I love Mexican food.   The more I eat it the more I love it.   I love that each restaurant I go to is a bit different.    Only the hot sauce from Lolitas tastes good on the food from Lolitas.    See what I mean?
I love all of the regional cuisines in Mexico.   Ranas serves the food of Mexico City.    Think cactus, shoes and flowers.    OK, ok, think nopales, huaraches and zucchini flowers.    There, you aren't scared anymore are you?
If one was to drive by Ranas in Spring Valley, one might think "oh, just another Robertos" but one would be wrong.   Don't let the taco shop appearance of the place fool you, this is a first class restaurant with really, really good food.   
I've been to Ranas several times, enough so that Oscar, the owner gave me a high 5 the last time I was in there.   On this last trip (12/11) we took 2 friends who had never been there before and were they glad they went!    
The first time we went in, Oscar brought us out about 4 samples of the sauces they make, chipotle, sour cream Dulce, peanut sauce and green mole.   The green mole was the best I have ever had.   Not on the menu, made with pumpkin seeds and basil OMG YUM!.  The chipotle and dulce were great as well but the peanut sauce stopped the show.   When he said peanut sauce I thought it would be sweet and sticky - it was not.   Whole peanuts were in there and the sauce was a savory taste explosion with a kick of heat in it too.   
Sadly, every time I have gone there since, the green mole hasn't been featured and I can't get past my favorites to order the peanut sauce.   I know, bad foodie, TRY SOMETHING NEW!   ;)
This past Friday I had a bit of a cold and was really glad to see that the Caldo Tlapeno was on special so I got it.    If you love good soup, I mean really good soup, get this.    HUGE bowl of chipolte broth with garbanzo beans, rice, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, avocado and cheese.    The broth is hot enough and it cleared my sinuses but I was still able to taste all of the wonderful goodies in the soup.    Served with tortillas this bowl is plenty to eat for dinner.     
The 3 gals I was with each had a huarache.    Think sope that is shaped like a shoe - huarache.   The masa is great here, nice and chewy.    The pollo asado is grilled not stewed and very light.    I had bites of the huaraches too since I love them so much.
Two of the gals had never had nopales (cactus) and so asked Oscar for a sample which he gladly brought out.    They really liked it and I think were a little surprised that they did.   Oscar then brought out fresh cactus to taste and a whole leaf of cactus so they could get a look at it.   As soon as they saw the leaf, they figured out what it was.    We all tried the raw cactus and it was very crunchy and very fresh tasting.   Then came the best part.    
Oscar drinks every morning a smoothie made of cactus, celery, kiwi and orange juice.   He whipped up a little batch for us and we all tried it.   OMG was it good.   Very light and refreshing and we all saw how it would be a great breakfast.    Oscar says it is going on the menu soon.   Please Oscar don't tease us!   
Go to Ranas soon, don't be surprised if there is a wait and then enjoy some great traditional cuisine!


9683 Campo Road, Spring Valley CA 91977 
Cusine: Mexico City Cuisine
Dollar Value: Excellent.
Service: Very, very friendly
Would I return here: Yes, a thousand times YES!

Lake Murray Cafe

OK there we were, sitting at home on a rainy Monday night wondering what to have for dinner.    Neither one of us felt like cooking and we wanted something warm and comforting.     We decided on the Lake Murray Cafe.
We had been there a couple of times before and the food is good, the place is big and the staff is nice.
One thing to know about this place is BISCUITS.   When you sit down, they bring a basket of them to the table and they are big.    I mean really big.   I am talking Cheesecake Factory BIG.    Big and good and warm and yummy.    If you don't go there for anything else, go there for the biscuits.
This time around we were both in the mood for breakfast.   I had the avocado, feta cheese and olives omelet and my dining companion had the  Mediterranean omelet with feta, olives, tomato and basil.     I would have expected the olives (at least in the Mediterranean) to be kalamata but they weren't.    Basic black olives.   Don't get me wrong, I love olives of all colors, I was just a bit surprised.
The omelets are HUGE 4 eggers each.    Needless to say there was a take home box for each of us.  I can't say for sure that the eggs were real as they tasted a bit processed.   Next time I will ask for real eggs as I really don't like the ones from a carton.   What do the chickens look like that lay those cartons anyway?!
I ordered the toast cakes with my omelet.    I wasn't sure what they were and the server told me they were pancakes.   Worked for me!

The food came and we ate with gusto til we were full and then marveled at the amount left over.  Lunch for the next day!

There are several restaurants in this family.  This is the only location I have been to.

5465 Lake Murray Blvd La Mesa, CA 91942-1549 Cusine: american with a little bit of everything
Dollar Value: Excellent.
Service: Very, very friendly
Would I return here: Yes I would but will ask for real eggs next time.

Street Food!

Let me start by saying I am not a chef nor do I aspire to be one.  I let the experts do the cooking and then enjoy with "unbridled enthusiasm" the fruits of their labor!     This past Saturday was a most enjoyable morning!

Me and two friends went to the Cooks Confab in Little Italy - Street Food!   

I love street food.   If I were in Manhattan and had no food budget, I would eat the street food.    I think it is one of the best ways to get close to a culture.    Experience what people eat when pressed for money and time.    This is where it happens, at street level.

Don't get me wrong, this street food event was unlike any I have ever been to before.   These chefs are not messing around.   This was not the street food of Mexico or Red Hook.    This was only street food in that it was served on the street.   I don't care.   I loved it.   

This event was a fundraiser for ARTS.   Up until this, I have never heard of this non profit.   But they are out to help kids and they did it with food.   I like this a lot.

The deal was this, buy a ticket for fifteen bucks and for that we got 5 booth tickets.    Great deal.    We also bought a bunch more booth tickets for five bucks each.   We wanted to try it all.     This was the first year of the event and there were a lot of happy people there.    Only a couple of suggestions - have water to buy and more vegetarian stuff to eat.   There was only one booth (Waters) that had anything to drink.    They had tangerine juice with mint.   It was yummy but not nearly enough.    One friend of mine is a vegetarian and there was only one booth that had anything vegetarian.     All of the vendors were happy to make their dishes without meat for her but it felt like an afterthought.

We ate shredded beef tacos from Waters.    These were the street variety, tiny little corn tortillas with peppers, limes, salsa, cilantro and onions to pile on as we liked.    Yum.    I love tiny little tacos.  

The Farm House Cafe in University Heights was there with ham and cheese sammiches and pomme frittes.    More yum.    Nothing wrong with french fries and a nice sammich for breakfast!

Cafe Chloe was there with a nice little tray of a palmier, roasted chestnuts and drinking chocolate.   OMG.   Chestnuts and drinking chocolate are the perfect holiday treat.    Please don't even bother calling this hot chocolate.   If you have never had drinking chocolate stop what you are doing and get you some - NOW.    It will change your life.  

Since this was a fundraiser, I was really happy to see that it was very well attended.    Lots of people there with lots of really happy faces eating really good food.    We were all really happy that we had parked on Harbor Island and walked the 3 miles to Little Italy.   Made us feel better about all of the calories we consumed.   Another bonus is that we discovered that the Little Italy Farmers Market is one of the best in town.   Live sea urchin at a farmers market?    Get what I mean?

Damn Fine Pizza!

I love pizza.
Let me be clear, I love New York thin crust pizza.   The thinner the better and if I have to fold it that is the best.
There are not many of these pizza places in San Diego.   Rejoice, thin crust pizza lovers!    We can add 1 more to the list!     Pizzeria Luigi!
I saw this place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (I also love Guy but that is another type of BLOG!) and knew I had to run to try this pizza.
I ran and it was worth it.

To date, I have eaten at 2 of the 3 locations - North Park and Golden Hill.    Only Little Italy is left.

I've had the pesto/mozzarella, pepperoni and spinach/ricotta slices.    Oh my god.   Died and went to thin crust pizza heaven!    This is the best crust I have ever had.    Luigi actually uses Manhattan water to make his crust.    It does matter!

All of the pizzas are great but if you are a lover of fresh ricotta (and really, who isn't?!) then don't miss any slice with this manna on it.   The creamiest, dreamiest cheese on the face of the earth. 

The atmosphere is great too - if you go on a Sunday, the game will be on and if it isn't a Sunday then the tv will be on with whatever sporting event is good to watch at the time.   I am hoping for a Tour De France viewing party in July.    This pizza and Lance on a bike?    Be still  my heart!!!

Many locations.
Cusine: pizza, whole and by the slice.  Some pastas and salads too.
Dollar Value: Excellent.
Service: Very friendly
Would I return here: Already have!

MMM scones!

I don't know about you but I love scones.   I mean really good scones, still warm from the oven.   If you, too, are a lover of the scone then read on. 

In the great neighborhood of South Park, there is a great little place called Rebeccas Coffee House.

Rebecca knows her way around a scone and a cup of coffee.

We went there yesterday morning, before a round of golf on the Balboa 9.

What a great way to start a great day!

Scones and coffee ordered, we were asked if blueberry was ok.    Yes, blueberry is ok.    Next we were each presented with a plastic basket with a huge warm blueberry scone and a little cup of preserves.

We made our way to a couch in the coffee shop and sat down.   I put the plastic basket on my lap and it warmed my lap.   Oh this was gonna be good!

I broke off a piece of the scone, dipped it in the preserves and shoved it in my mouth.

I died and went to heaven.   

The scone was wonderful, crunchy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside.    The blueberries were whole and there were a lot of them.   I devoured the scone in about 5 minutes.   I was a little embarrassed but not for long.   Dear Rebecca - I will be back and I will want scones.

Was the round of golf fun?   Sure!     Did I make par?    Who cares...I had a scone at Rebeccas!

3015 Juniper Street
San Diego CA 92104
Cusine: Coffee shop, scones and light breakfast
Dollar Value: Excellent.
Service: Very friendly
Would I return here: Yes, yes, yes!

Indian, anyone?

We had a mom that wanted to go to Indian food.   I love Indian food so I had no problem with this request!    We decided to try Royal India on Market in the Gaslamp.    A couple of reasons for this decision, we had never been there and I had a coupon!

We got there early, about 5:15 on a weeknight and it was empty.   Yay for us, we didn't have to wait!   I could tell that "mom" was a little aprehensive about the food so we decided to play it safe.

As soon as we sat down we received water and Papadum with two chutneys, 1 sweet and 1 hot.    I love hot but I know that some don't so I tasted and then warned accordingly.

I ordered some potato and pea samosas as I knew she would like those since they are fried!   Of course, we all liked them.    Nice and light and served on a bed of cabbages.     

For the dinner I ordered three dishes and we shared all of them.    Paneer Tikka Masala, Channa Masala and Chicken Tikka Kabab.   They all came with rice and I got a garlic and a plain nan too.     I ordered the paneer and the chicken mild and got the channa medium spicy.     I knew that the cheese would go over well along with the chicken.   The garbanzos would have been ok for her except that they were a little spicier than she liked.    Needless to say, I loved them all.     

The rice was perfect as was the nan.    Everything was great, I would have kept eating if I hadn't gotten full.    I know that mom was impressed when the chicken came to the table on the steaming plate.    The veggies under the chicken were great and the chicken was very tender.

After we stuffed ourselves on all of this great food we had to have dessert.   I ordered the Shahi Mango and the Rusmalai (more cheese).     We shared both of them.   Mom liked the mango best but the rest of us liked them both equally.     

The service was great, the place wasn't crowded and I will go back!   Maybe some pictures next time!
329 Market Street
San Diego CA 92101
Cusine: Indian
Dollar Value: A little pricy but worth it.
Service: Very friendly
Would I return here: Yes, yes, yes!
329 Market Street,
San Diego, CA 92101

329 Market Street,
San Diego, CA 92101

True Street Tacos

I had heard about Tacos El Paisa from many people.  I knew it was right across the street from Latte Mi Corazon (a favorite little coffee shop) but had yet to try it myself until Sunday.

Oh My God.   What had I been waiting for?!     

This is the cutest place, an area for dining inside and outside that is cleaner than a lot of other places I eat.   The taco truck is right there in the parking lot.    

There is also an outdoor grill that was being fired up just as I was leaving - much to my dismay.   I want to know what delicious treats come off of that thing!

I ordered the tacos el pastor and a large order of refried beans.    My dining companion had the potato tacos.   Both were served three tacos with a soda for five bucks.    Soon after we ordered, the tray of salsa came.    I could have eaten this alone and been in heaven.   Cucumbers, onions, carrots, radishes, chips, three kinds of salsa and limes were on it.    Slap my face, this was good!!!

Then came the tacos and these were even better.   Pastor tacos are typically served with pineapple.   These weren't but I think the meat was marinated in the juice.    They were served on corn tortillas with cilantro and onions.    The tortillas were just off the grill and rival Quatros Milpas.   The potato tacos were just as good with lettuce, crema and queso fresco.    I wished I had the room and I would have eaten all 6 of those tacos myself!    

I was sad that I didn't have room after the tacos for a Cafe Cubano across the street.    I will next time!

3069 National Ave.

San Diego, CA 92113

(619) 262-5128

Cusine: Mexican
Dollar Value: Excellent
Service: Very friendly
Would I return here: I already made plans!!

Ethiopian!

A friend was recently returned from D.C.  If you are wondering, all is well there.
She dined on Ethiopian food while there and wanted to do it again.
I had known of Harar in North Park for quite some time but just hadn't gotten there yet.
We got there!   A tiny little place with only about 5 tables inside but a great outside patio to eat on.   We decided to eat outside since the early November evening was quite nice.
There were 3 of us and we ate quite well and thoroughly enjoyed the food.   We were the only people in the restaurant when we got there and everyone was quite friendly.
I shared the sampler platter with one and the other diner got a vegetarian plate.  Both were quite good and more than enough food.   My platter had 7 different dishes, 3 meat based and 4 vegetarian.   All of it was served on a bed of injera - more on injera in a bit.   
Ethiopian dining uses no utensils, the injera is your fork and spoon.   I love it when I can eat with my hands!    All you gotta do it tear off a piece of the injera, scoop whatever you want into it and shove the whole thing in your mouth - yummy.   
The meat based dishes were beef, chicken and lamb.  All were quite tasty but I preferred the vegetarian items.   There was a cabbage and potato dish, lentils, green salad and collard greens.   I could have eaten one whole dish of the collards but I will go to the ends of the earth for greens!
Our server was kind enough to bring us two huge baskets on extra injera - smart man!   
Now about that injera - bread.   It is made from teff, the smallest of the cereal grains.   It takes three days to make and is a bit fermented.   This fermentation gives it the slightly sour taste I love so much.   It is cooked on a
flat pan called a mitad.   Not unlike a huge, thin pancake but no sweetness here!   
We all ate until we were full and had leftovers.   The bill for the three of us was $36.00.    Very reasonable for three to eat out these days!      
As we left, we decided to try The Red Sea - another Ethiopian restaurant located on El Cajon blvd. 
Cusine: Ethiopian
Dollar Value: Excellent
Service: Very friendly but a little slow
Would I return here: You betcha!!

Welcome Friends!

First post on this new blog.   I intend for this to be the place I put down thoughts about all of the fun my friends and I have exploring different foods while doing life.   

I love food.   I love learning about food.  I love the cultural significance of food and how it is used for celebrations.   I love to eat the foods I have learned about.

I hope you enjoy what I write.   

I hope some of it inspires you to get out and taste everything there is.

Life happens around food so go and live!