Git a little soul in your bowl!

Cross another one off of the "must try and will return to" list!    

We had been wanting to pay a visit to Bonnie Jeans for quite some time.    T wasn't feeling so hot so I knew some honest-to-goodness, patch-you-right-up, just-like-mom-used-to-make soul food was just the ticket!

The cafe is only 3 miles from home and I can see that we are going to be regulars there.   I can't wait for the day that I walk in and am greeted with a "Hi Diane!" just like some of the other guests are!

Like I said, I knew that this was the kind of food T needed to get back on track.   Mashed potatoes are a favorite so I knew I wouldn't go wrong.    Plus, I had been wanting some really, REALLY good fried chicken. 

I ordered a "veggie plate" for T with macaroni & cheese, collards and, mashed potatoes with gravy.   Came with cornbread.     There was enough food on that plate that we split all of them so I could share my food too.

I ordered the 3 piece fried chicken dinner (all white meat) with collards and black eyed peas.    Came with cornbread too.

When I placed the order I was told that all of the fried chicken is made to order so it would take about 20 minutes.    Made to order fried chicken?   Fine by me!!     

I sat down to wait for my food and checked the place out.    Lots of art hanging on the walls, board games to play and gospel music on the radio.    I was loving this.

Pretty soon my food was ready and the bag I was handed smelled wonderful.    You know the smell, fresh fried chicken - nothing like it. 

I had tried to order red velvet cake and german chocolate cake but they were out.    Same with the hot water cornbread.    As far as I was concerned, this was just another reason to come here again!  

I put that bag in my car and drove home with that wonderful smell in my nose the whole way.   When I got home with the food, T was ready and we took the food out, plated it up and sat down to enjoy it.   

I am a fan of fried chicken and this was the best I have ever had.    The breast was HUGE and the meat inside was sooooo moist and wonderful.     I ate that whole thing (well what T didn't take) and the 2 wings that came with it.     

I love southern cooking and am capable of cooking up a mess of collards and black eyed peas too.    The collards that Bonnie Jeans puts out are out of this world.    I told T that I could just have had a big bowl of them with cornbread and have been quite happy.    The pot likker was delicious after my cornbread soaked in it.   The greens had so obviously cooked all day with several ham hocks.     They weren't bitter at all and had the most wonderful flavor.    One of the true comfort foods when done right.     The other sides were good too but those collards really stood out.

The mashed potatoes were very creamy and tasty too and served with brown gravy.   I am typically more of a fan of turkey gravy but I would never send these back!     

The cornbreads were great as well - individual cakes with little pieces of jalapeno in them.     

Just so you know, this food isn't light and it isn't diet.    In truth I would avoid any place that claimed to serve light soul food.     Really, what's the point?

I can't wait to go here again as there are several things on the menu that I must try.     Maybe I will see you there too!

1964 54th Street
San Diego, CA 92105

Cusine: Soul food.
Dollar Value: Good.
Service: Good.
Would I return here: Yes!   Can I go now?!

Solace and great food.

I'd been hearing about Urban Solace for a while but hadn't made the time to dine there until a couple of nights ago.   I am so sorry I waited this long!

T and I had tickets to Lily Tomlin at the Balboa so we decided to sup here prior to the show.   Friends can attest that I was really excited that the Balboa reopened.    I was really excited that T got tickets to see Lily.    Neither one of us had seen her live.    She was great.   I hope I look as good at 70 as she does!

Now on to the dinner as after all this is a blog about food!

When we eat out, we share everything.    This way, we get to try lots of different items on a menu.   I wish we had 4 more people with us for this dinner as there were several other things I wanted to try.   

We started with the goat cheese and butternut squash dip and an arugla/endive/radicchio salad.   I could have left the restaurant happy after these two dishes.    The dip was warm pureed squash with goat cheese mixed in.   Sprinkled with pine nuts and served with toasted baguettes and cornmeal crisps.    The salad was one of the best I have ever had.    I love it when unexpected things are put in a salad - grapefruit wedges and grilled avocado slices.    The salad was huge and could have easily been a wonderful lunch.

For our entree we shared the portobello burger with sweet potato fries.    Not your everyday portobello burger, this one had goat cheese and arugula on it.   A messy delicious sandwich that I would gladly eat again.

I also ordered a side of the mac and cheese, vegetarian.   This is typically served with duck.    No, ducks don't get to eat it with you, they are *gulp* in it!     It was served in a Kerr jar.    Blue cheese is one of the main cheeses in it and this makes it wonderfully decadent.    Crispy bread crumbs with roasted cherry tomatoes top it off.    Get me a spoon and get out of my way.

Our server asked if we wanted dessert.    She must be new.   Oh wait, we were new!    Of course we wanted dessert!    She named off all of the items and we decided pretty quickly.    Warm pear bread pudding and a salted caramel pot de creme.    

I am a HUGE fan of bread pudding if it is done well.    This was one of the best I have ever had.   I think the bread was a brioche and it was clear that it had been a loaf not soon before.    I really dislike a bread pudding that is mush.     T typically isn't a fan of the bread pudding (I ain't hatin' just statin'!) and I could hardly get my spoon in over hers for this one!

I have to say though that the pot de creme was sublime.   Served in the same Kerr jar as the mac and cheese.  There were flecks of salt in the creme and every once in a while I would get one.   The salty along with the sweet was out of this world.    It had a chocolate cap on it that was semi sweet and dark and on top of that was unsweetened fresh whipped creme.    I feel safe in saying that this is the dessert I want with me on that desert island after the ship wreck.   Incredible.

 

3823 30th Street
San Diego, Ca 92104 

Cusine: New American Comfort Food.
Dollar Value: Good.
Service: Very attentive
Would I return here: Yes!   As soon as I possibly can!

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes!

University Heights has got to be one of my most favorite places in town.   All of the character of Hillcrest yet a lot less of the parking hassles.   :)     Hillcrest is also not able to brag that they were once home to an ostrich farm!

That said, I won't ever pass up an opportunity to dine here.

T and I had gone to the Farm House cafe on two prior occasions and none of the visits thus far have disappointed!    

This has got to be one of the smallest places I have ever dined in yet it doesn't feel crowded and certainly not rushed either.    This visit was a rare Sunday brunch.   Rare as we are usually on the road on some form of two wheeled transportation!    We had just returned from our annual pilgrimage to mecca (aka Vegas) and so we were just lazing around not doing anything but eat well.

We got here at about 10:00 and didn't have to wait for a table - NICE!   

I was hankering for a good latte and theirs was great.   Made me smile on a Sunday AM.   

We knew even before we arrived that we would share a small order of the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes.   When you visit here, be sure to do yourself a favor and get an order - you won't be sorry.   Half dollar sized pancakes with ricotta in the batter and a lemon sauce as topping.   Yum-O.    Who says that breakfast doesn't deserve dessert?   Not me!

T ordered the Oeufs Sur La Plat - eggs baked over sauteed potatoes in a cast iron skillet with a wonderfully light tomato sauce on top.   

I had the Oeufs Brouilles Aux Champignons - eggs scrambled with truffle duxelles over sour cream polenta.   This must have been made by angels.    I am a big fan of the polenta but not if it is heavy and lumpy.   This was the creamiest I have ever had.   The eggs with truffles was wonderful as well.    Not to salty but just enough...oh...I can still taste how good it was!

As I mentioned already, we finished with the pancakes and we glad we did so.

Have not yet ventured to this place for dinner but I sense that this is not far off...

Good thing that we decided to go looking at antiques after this feast since that meant a bit of walking!

2121 Adams Avenue

San Diego CA 

Cusine: casual country french.  Nice emphasis on casual.  
Dollar Value: Good.
Service: Very, very friendly
Would I return here: Yes!   Already have.  

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.