Nine-Ten La jolla

A modern innovative contemporary American restaurant tucked inside the Colonial hotel, Nine-Ten is the home of some fantastic chefs.

Dark lit interior with walls that open to the street, great food awaits you.

For starters, a miso based soup shooter was brought out, light, tofu an hints of seaweed danced as you took the shot:


The soup of the day, a potato leak soup was brought out with a tangerine reduction base:


Poured for you to a nice bowl:


Fabulous...

The grilled prime cap steak, rare and served on top of russet potato stacks with chanterelle mushrooms and chimichurri sauce... Amazing:


The apple and cucumber salad with fresh truffle oil was bursting with crisp smoky flavor:


But the lamb loin, slow cooked roasted California loin, with cherry, almond and truffles corn... Wow... Luscious loin, can't go wrong!



With a BV tapestry vintage, a blend of cab, zin, Cabernet franc and others was fantastically good. Bold flavors, fruity aromas and a subdued spice with a vengeance..delicious:



For dessert, the panna cotta with pistachios and lime sorbet..



But the warn chocolate brownie with caramel and ice cream... Worth every calorie:


As a treat, peppermint marshmallows...



Flavors to bring out the salivating papov response, Nine-ten has some great dishes.

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Langostinas spectacular

Langostinas are a miniature lobster looking like marine creature that is akin to a prawn in texture. Prized for their tail meat, they can make a fantastic protein loaded meal easily.

Garlic, onions, truffle oil and thyme bring the langostinas alive, bathing in a flavor of herbs pair well with fresh broccoli florets:


With a little puttanesca inspired couscous and sun dried tomato addition,



The langostina spectacular begins..
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Carnitas scramble

With a gloomy sunday, rains abound and recovery of the holiday events, a little tender carnitas with good old friend chalula is here to make it all better.



Carnitas and egg, covered in pepper jack cheese compliments the bottomless mimosas at Terra.



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Vagabond- south park

Vagabond, reminiscent of a world traveler that hordes good recipes and dishes, is sort of the main theme of the restaurant.

Nestled in south park across the street from what appears to have been the product of a target superstore Christmas light shopping frenzy, vagabond offers a warm and cozy interior with earth warm colors, low dim lit interior and welcoming charm.





With Arabic columns, roman arches and Indian and moroccan lamps, A bit of country French intimacy with Chinese proverbs painted on the main wall is the environment that welcomes you.

The Kung pao calamari with spicy chili, stir fried and served hot got the taste buds going:


Although a mild spice, it was almost reminiscent of the emergency stop at PF changs one hectic holiday shopping time!

The lamb kefka, Lebanese meatballs served with a little mint were fantastic:



The baked fresh bread with melted butter was brought out warm...


The arugula and pear salad was prepared with smoke hickory bacon, blue cheese and a nicely roasted pear thinly sliced:


The Peruvian pork, well Cooked and prepared, served on a banana leaf was a little bland relative to the amount of ingredients..



The tagine chicken, brought out in a classic ceramic tagine was cooked well, but less than overwhelming:


Carlsbad mussels cooked in white wine and shallots were large and hearty:


Across the way, scallops a little charred got the comme çe comme ça vote.


The wine selection consisted of a less well known syrah from the south of France that was recession friendly and required to be cooled down a couple of degrees!


Overall, the global influences and worldly plates gets a praise, the selection of less known and not so expensive wines a great plus, however the overall flavors were not jumping out this night. The potency of savor of what one would expect from the dishes was somehow dialed down..

Still, for wine tasting and small bites, vagabond is reminiscent of a modern Enoteca..

- Posted from my iPhone

Saffron - chicken MIssion Hills

Saffron chicken, an originally location for the Saffron restaurant group, is located at the foothills of mission hills.

The Thai specialties include everything from sate to pad Thai, flavorful dishes await you. Having expanded from the original roasted chicken... To a full sit down lunch and dinner spot, check out the rotisserrie:



With Cambodian salads and fresh peanut sauce, a quick chicken pickup can easily satisfy the dinner hunger.




Noodles and slaw with a light vinaigrette compliments the hearty and wholesome chicken that is offered.

With Thai grilled chicken baskets for pick up, curb side service and a host of everyday specials, saffron is defiantly spicing it up.


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The purple queen - eggplant

Ever wonder where in the world the fruit (and yes folks it's a fruit, categorize botanically in the berries category of all things), eggplant derived it's name?

The mexicans and spaniards call it call it alberginía, aubergine in French, melanzane in Italian, with Arabic roots in al-badinjan and Sanskrit naming it vātiga-gama, why did the Americans call it eggplant?

Myth has it, that when euro cultivators in the 18th century grew it, it turned yellow and resembled goose eggs.

Despite the name, it's a fabulous fruit. From roasted and blended with tahini and Lemon for a baba ganoush, or cooked with Thai basil for a potent spicy serving, or breaded for an italian melanzane Alla parmigiania, layered like a lasagna for a Greek moussaka, the might purple queen of a fruit is fantastic to eat.

Sautéed with baby sugar plum tomatoes and plenty of olive, thyme and garlic turns this bitter fruit into a delight:


Blended into a roasted baba ganoush:


Cooked with herbs and onions


Or extracted from the corners of the world



The mighty eggplant Is not just a staple for vegetarians..


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Curried chicken and couscous

We love us some curried chicken. From massala to tari, a popular Indian subcontinent delight has gone pleasantly viral.

From red Thai curry to yellow bright turmeric enhanced stew type curries, a simple and delicious dish that is reinvented over and over again across cultures.

The chicken and potatoes sizzled away to a vanilla and cinnamon infused yellow curry mix. A little sweet and spice balanced each other for a harmonious flavor:




With a vegetable couscous capturing the garlic, onions, thyme and pepper, Flavors are popping:



With some roasted peppers, a little burnt jalepeño and sugar plum tomatoe salad.. The 4 basic flavors come together..




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Crest cafe - Hillcrest

With it's diner look and feel, an open door policy for anyone that just woke up and rolled out bed and prompt service, Crest cafe is the neighborhoods cafe that has some breakfast specials bound to satisfy the crowds.. Particularly those that were overserved the night before :)

Having visited the cafe before for lunch and well pleased by the sandwich and salad offerings, this darling Cohen restaurant family member serves things up a little different. Solid, good and basic dishes, nothing too exotic, Cuban sandwiches and Italian benedicts are as foreign as it gets.

The morning scramble sandwich was calling out it's name. Eggs, bacon, onions, mushrooms all served in a multigrain toast with cheddar cheese hit the spot with a little chalula sauce...


With some fresh fruit, great way to finish off a spin class.

Across the table, a farmers scramble with artichoke and mushroom and golden hash browns:


Healthy, hearty and full of comfort, Monday nights have 60 percent off wine bottles, buy one get one free burger Tuesday's and other specials, the crest cafe has something for everyone.


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Amarin Thai - Hillcrest

Amarin, a local Thai venue with attentive service and bustling tables, brings good Thai food this side if the meridian time line.

17 years and opening up a new spot in PB soon, there's always a few wine bottle daily that are half off. With a 10percent off with cash payment, Amarin is clearly customer orientated.

Being a frequent guest of the establishment, it seems like the dinner crowd is back. Tables full, noise levels high and sizzling pots and dishes whirling right by, its defiantly not a first date night type of place. It's more like a friends and family fest.

The potak soup with seafood, a delicious hot an sour soup with lemongrass, ginger came with large mussels, shrimp and calamari:






The eggplant with chicken dish, basil eggplant with fresh chili an garlic is always fantastic:



Get your spice on at Amarin...

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Coq au vin

Chicken and wine... That's all it is. Coq au Vin is a classic French Dish, chicken sauteed and simmered in red wine, usually a dark burgundy, melds with mushrooms, carrots, potatoes or whatever your country pantry has.

Plump baby Chickens welcome the sizzling crackle sound of onions and garlic. :


Throw in a jalepeño for alittle spice, and the Coq au vin gets transmexified!

Simmering to a bubbling joy of robust aromas, the baby chicks absorb the flavors:


Simmer away to lock in the flavors:


Tenderized and plump, the deep red powers the chicken and spices:


Served with a little tarragon and mustard infused greens, the flavors if the west bank will bring a smile to the hungrified.

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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

- Posted from my iPhone