Ortegas - Hillcrest

There's several Mexican options in Hillcrest. The majority under deliver even though we are a stone's throw away from the border! Ortegas does quite the opposite, with a warm and cozy interior, intact with a fireplace bar setting, a holy private banquet for those sinners that need to repent and lots of flavor to offer.

Being a sister restuarant to one in puerto Nuevo, Ortegas brings some standard dishes with authentic flavor and well sized portions.

The bloody marys are served up and spicy:


The carnitas are tender chunks of pork, marinaded to sweetness, served with some improvised Spanish rice, black beans, roasted chilies and fresh tortillas:


The sandia shrimp salad cane with gulf grilled shrimps, watermelon, cotija cheese and greens sprinkled with beans:


Every time we come here, always leave satisfied. Watch out for $2 Tuesday margueritas... Great good, lively ambience and flavors that you'll Bring back home!

Barrio star SD

A return to the barrio, barrio star that is, exhibits several star selections. With it's bright colors and Mexico-esque dia de los muertos play, flavorful bites and sassy drinks await the locals.

The Serrano chile marguerita with cumin rim.. Spicy with a kick:


The Mexican chopped salad with chicken, roasted corn and light chipotle ranch dressing was satisfying:



The grilled fish tacos were fantastic. On home made corn tortillas with cabbage slaw, black beans and salsa fresca, delicious :





But the surprise sandwich, the carnitas torta... Sweet succulent pork marinaded with a chili sauce served with avocado and a thinly fried crisp on two torta breads... Fabulous:





With paprika spinkled chips, omg

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Eden..Hillcrest

A return to Eden after a traumatic experience on it's opening was quite pleasant. With $10 bottomless mimosas, the place was packed with activity and energy.

The waiters were all dressed in White underpants and knee high tube socks.. An interesting choice of uniform.

With the breakfast menu in full effect, the crab bennies were calling out "eat me, eat me":



Crab was smothered in hollandaise sauce, with a little Tabasco, tasty.

The snafalgalgus... Or something close to that, was an egg mcmuffin made with waffles instead of muffins:


With entry bites around the comfort zone of the neighborhood ($10) and bottomless mimosas for the same, the brunch spot has reopened for the masses..

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Farmhouse..SD

Welcome to the farmhouse! A rustic French country bistro type of a place, offering a small and quaint environment with only about 12 or so tables, locally grown and sourced foods are brought together for some fantastic meals.

Foie gras was offered tonight... Need one say more! Finally, a san Diego place that sears the tender duck liver with a plum sauce, a brioched pear slice and toasted bread... Fabulous:



A red and yellow beet salad with arugula and simple dressing :


Our gracious hostess was showcasing the house wine.. Corked an bottled locally, the restaurant purchased a couple of caskets of a red wine similar to a meritage...


But the piece de resistance, the lamb shank.. With bone and all! Hints of cinnamon, berries and wild couscous adorned this gorgeous piece of meat:


The kitchen was open for all the action to be seen:


Specials of the day posted on chalkboards also indicated to the side where items were items were being sourced from:



With art decor and other eclectic images throughout:


Homemade chocolates with sea salt, almonds, cherries or hazelnut soothed the full bellies:



Only to make room for the cheese plate.. A creamy Brie, a bite of an aged Camembert all in bite portions:


The farmhouse had a warm welcoming, great food and definitely on the list for returns.

- Posted from my iPhone

Roppongi- la jolla

Celebrating it's 12th year, Roppongi, an Asian fusion place in La Jolla, was offering half off the appetizers and sushi rolls. So clearly, we had to sample a
variety of dishes.

Presenting a new Asian cuisine, the main dining area is bustling with activity, however the outdoor areas offer a nice reclusive atmosphere underneath the heat lamps to protect you from the freezing la jolla weather..:)

The polynesian crab stack, a tartare influenced tapa, was crab flavored with mango, pea shoots, red onion in a spicy Ginger lime dressing.. Brought out initially as a towered stack, but mixed thoroughly at the table., was distinctly flavorful and delicious:


The hawaiin style pork spring Rolls were brought out with a hoisin sauce and a sweet and chili sauce...


The yellowtail roll and the Kobe beef roll were fantastic. Spicy yellowtail with scallion and fire roasted chili purée... The seared Kobe beef with crab and asparagus with a touch of American horseradish was divine:



The BBQ mini lamb chops with pineapple fried rice were good enough to pick up by the bone and gnaw your kittle heart out!



A new and surprisingly fabulous combination, was the smoked salmon on potato corn crisps with a lemon chive creme fraiche... Topped with a little tobiko caviar... Heavenly:


The spicy sesame coated shrimp assorted in arugula and mango was a nice addition:


For dessert, a baked Bosch pear with a coconut gelato was good, though if burnt a bit more would have been fabulous...


A little coconut and chocolate take home:


With a modern twist to the Asian confusion, roppongi's Asian tapas bring all the fun and powerful flavors of the east, to the shores of la jolla..

- Posted from my iPhone

Combo meals

Options are always a good thing. From soups to appetizers, as well as Surf and turf combinations, the multiple options plates are becoming more and more popular at events...

Start with a salad and soup shooter options. Soup shooters give you a chance to sample different soups without committing to a whole bowl:



Leafy greens with a squash soup shooter and a tomatoe Parmesan shooter.

Or a beef steak with a seared scallop for a little land and sea:


With whole baby potatoes, looks like the chef was a bit of a hurry!

The chocolate bon Bon cheesecake lollipops disappeared faster than a picture could be taken... Hmmmm looks like the dinner date was hungry :)

- Posted from my iPhone

Tex Mex wars

La salsa is dishing up a couple if new entrees to spur the activities. Always great for a quick lunch, the new salads are actually not half bad..

The chile chipotle shrimp salad with avocado:


Or the fire roasted veggie salad with broccoli, squash and rice:


Don't forget the Mexico city tacos, steak, Barbacoa and chicken:


With unlimited salsa bar, quick bites are making a comeback.

Zia's gourmet pizza - SD

Looking for a great pizza place to hit that comfort spot can actually be wife challenging. Thin crust aficionados are intermixed with your fast food type variety, the deep dish cholesterol attacks or the greasy kind.

Zia's offers a whole wheat crusted pizza with a variety of different toppings. From the succulent chicken with peaches, to the eggplant, cranberry and yoghurt toppings, the combinations are different and tasty:


The pizza line from which you can pick slices from a selection to create your own combination of flavors or order directly a single type :


The yoghurt and eggplant one was delicious, sauteed eggplant with a refreshing dill yoghurt topping:


The carnivore one had sicilian ham, slices of Parma ham and mushrooms:


There were other varieties that included potatoe toppings, cranberry and spinach and a hawaiian BBQ.

The place is as simple as can be, no decor, no frills, not even a wine or liquor license!! But fantastic pizza crust and unique and different flavors..

- Posted from my iPhone

Experience the ota--SD

Sushi ota delivers once again. This bustling sushi bar tucked in between a planned parent hood and a 7-11 in a suburb of SD has the comfort of a Japanese sushi bar...

Having been taken here 8 years ago from SF, we had high doubts. Now with it practically in your backyard, the ota calling takes control. The secret is that all the fish is brought in from LA... Flown in overnight and trucked in daily in the morning.. Beats the majority of places in sd.

The Japanese clam miso soup has authentic Japanese clams... The sushi chefs speak only sushi,.

The chiriashi deluxe has toro, uni, yellowtail, octopus, mackerels, halibut, salmon and unagi... Fabulous



With a little spice pickle and a salmon cake, happy lunches await you at sushi ota..


Posted from my iPhone

Location:sD

Italian spice

Bravissimo ... Even applauding is dramatic in Italian. In the kitchen, the flavors of Italy can transport you from that state of mind to a happy existence.. From the garlic gnocchi to the pesto spinach tortellini or the burrato y pomodoro salad, the flavors are intense.. Forget the eat pray love re-run, the action begins in the kitchen.

A little pesto in your eggs can go a long way. A basil, pine nut, olive oil and garlic mix can dramatize any simple egg over medium into a mouth watering extravaganza:


Baby green beans with roasted sundried tomatoes add a fantastic vegetable side:


The last of Italian summer squash make it's way into a playful dance with thyme, Parmesan and Roma tomatoes:


The flavors of Italy can make their way into almost any dish..


- Posted from my iPhone

Subeez cafe- British Columbia

A comfort cafe scattered with Graffiti art, random eclectic paintings and punk and grunge admiring servers. Mornings breakfast are served by living art: pierced and tattooed waiters pour your pipin coffee or dish out the morning hangover cures to those that were overserved the night before...

The breakfast burrito, a spinach wrapped egg and cheese bite with home fries and salsa fresca:


Simple and straightforward...

The granola and fruit was crunchy and fresh:


For a low key neighborhood cafe, the lofty interior and decent breakfast bites are sure to get you going..

- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Vancouver

Goldfish- Vancouver

Vancouver, or sometimes referred to as hong kouver, has a strong Asian fusion theme running in a variety of establishments. Pacific rim style is the mantra of Goldfish, a lively modern establishment in the middle of the trendy Yaletown area.

With dimlit interior, dark modern furniture and a wall of lighted tapestries, the seductive and clean environment offers both open table and large alcove booth style dining experiences.
Modeled after some interiors of the east and west, the gracious hostess and animated crowds is sure bound to the appetite going.

The beef papaya salad was shredded papaya, carrots and slices of beef, mixed in a peanut lime sauce to offer a crisp and refresher starter:


The short rib starter was a healthy portion sized dish, slow braised with slivers of red pepper and scallions:


The grassfed bison was a meaty selection, thinly sliced to medium rare perfection, served with a potatoe base, asparagus and porcini sauce, an extra order of wild mushrooms made the Earthy flavors come out...fantastic!





The sauteed wild mushrooms, straw hat, chanterelle, crimini and Shitake, woody aromas with green chives .. Phenemenal.

The roasted beets with anise were to die for... A wonderful balance of tart and sweet:


For dessert, a chocolate lava cake... Rich dark chocolate and moist center, some gelato vanilla bean and cookie to add flavor:



Pacific rim influenced entrees, fabulous and delicious..

- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Vancouver

Glowbal-Vancouver

Crisp winter air and full heat lamp action toast your little hairs off, Glowbal in the heart of Yaletown in Vancouver is a fusion satay and brunch spot.

Vietnamese style donuts come served in a dim sim basket as a complimentary treat:



Protein smoothie shots of banana and strawberry are provided to start your day:



The classic ceasar with an oversized prawn is brought out with a touch of horseradish:


A complimentary meatball and short rib tastier is brought out... We are definitely liking this place!



The lobster Benedict with cheddar cheese biscuit, smoke Canadian ham and lush lobster was fantastic:


Home fries and all... Delicious.


The roasted half chicken was seasoned to perfection. Juicy and moist, came served with classic poutine (French fries with gravy and cheese curd):


With a dollop of sundried tomato butter, brunch was turning into an all day feasting event.

Additionally, it was customers appreciation day, so an added 25percent off! Glowbal delivered with tasty and delicious foods, multiple complimentary offering and fabulous service on the comfort of a cozy ambience.

- Posted from my iPhone

Location:Vancouver